
Class 



Book__i: 



NAMES 



WHICH THE 



LENNI LENNAPE OR DELAWARE INDIANS 



GAVE TO 



RIVERS, STREAMS AND LOCALITIES, 



WITHIN THE STATES OF 

PENNSYLVANIA, NEW JERSEY, MARYLAND and VIRGINIA, 

WITH THKIR SIONIFICATIONS. 

PREPARED FOR THE TRANSACTIONS OF THE 

MORAVIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY FROM 

A MS. BY JOHN' HECKEWELDER, 

BY 

WILLIAM C. REICHEX. 



BETIILEIIE^r : 

11. T. CLAUDER, PEINTER. 

1872. 



34558 




NAMES WHICH THE LENNI LENNAPE OR DELA- 
WARE INDIANS GAVE TO RIVERS, STREAMS 
AND LOCALITIES WITHIN THE STATES OF 
PENNSYLVANIA, NEW JERSEY, MARY- 
LAND AND VIRGINIA, WITH THEIR 
SIGNIFICATIONS, BY JOHN 
HECKEWELDER. 



The footprints of extinct races of men always become objects of 
interest in proportion to the fewness of their number and the ob- 
scurity of their character. Those of the Indian tribes, who once 
dwelt along the rivers that drain the loveliest portions of the 
eastern slope of the Appalachians, are growing less and fainter with 
the lapse of succeeding years. With no records to perpetuate the 
story of their origin, the course of migratory waves, the wars of 
contending nations, the rise and decadence of clans and the prowess 
of national heroes and heroines, save an oral tradition distorted by 
the adornments of a rude poesy, — the archaeology of this occidental 
people is likely to remain a sealed book. Even the tokens they 
have left us in enduring stone, — memorial pillars, implements of 
war, of the chase and of the household, — whether inscribed in hiero- 
glyphics of hidden meaning, or cunningly wrought from material 
as hard as adamant in an age which was ignorant of the use of 
the metals, — instead of aiding in the solution of the problem, pre- 
sent it in a more perplexing form. Equally obscure and unintel- 
ligible, but for the interpreter through whom they now speak, 
would have forever remained another class of relics come down to 
us— we mean the straggling footprints of its language, impressed 
upon the beautiful objects of nature among which this mysterious 
people lived and passed away. 

It is with such fragmentary remains of a now dead tongue that 
this paper is concerned ; principally with words belonging to the 
euphonious dialect of the Unamis or Delawares of the lowlands, 
the first of the copper-colored aborigines, who witnessed the advent 
of the white man from countries beyond the "great water," and 
the rising of the sun. 



4 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 

When Mr. Heckeweldcr undertook to restore the mutilated 
forms of Indian appellations of mountains, rivers and localities 
current among the whites of his time, and then to point out their 
significance, he did a work for which he is entitled to gratefnl 
remembrance. These names are now no longer empty sounds. 
They have become as it were living things, endowed with the 
faculty of speech. Transformed by him into tutelary spirits, they 
cling like dryads and hamadryads to the inanimate objects to which 
they M'cre long ago attached, and keep Avatch over the artless 
records inscribed upon them by another race of men. Some fix 
the localities of events that belong to the history of nations or of 
incidents that occurred in the experience of individuals, — some the 
favorite haunts of the animals of the chase or the habitat of those 
spontaneous products of nature which ministered to the Indian's 
daily wants ; others afford us glimpses of his sylvan life when on 
the hunt or on the war-path, or are descriptive of peculiarities in 
the landscape, of its flora or of its fauna; while together they 
people portions of our country with historical recollections of their 
former occupants which would otherwise have been inevitably lost. 

In preparing this paper, the editor took some liberties with Mr. 
Heckewelder's MS., deeming it desirable to avoid repetitions, to 
abbreviate modes of expression where it could be done without 
involving a sacrifice of the compiler's meaning, and to adapt topo- 
graphical descriptions to the geography of the present day. An 
alphabetical arrangement of the names suggested itself at once as 
the most convenient for reference. The historical annotations were 
drawn from a variety of trustworthy sources, and whilst in their 
selection preference was given to such matter as belongs to Mora- 
vian history, the attempt was made in all cases to adduce the 
earliest use or mention on record of the names under consideration. 
The following maps were freely consulted in this effort : 1st. "A 
Map of the Middle Bint'ish Colonies in America and of Aquanish- 
uonigy, the Country of the Confederate Indians, comprehending Aqua- 
nhhuonigy proper, their place of 7'esidence, (that part of the State of 
New York lying south of the Mohawk) — 0/wo (embracing the 
region of country south of the Maumee as far down as the Ken- 
tucky) and Tiiuxsoxruntie (the country north of the Maumcc and 
west of the Huron, as high as Lake Huron) their deer-hunting 
countries, — and Couxsaxragc (upper New York, south of the St. 



kOEAVIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 5 

Lawrence) and Skaniadarade (the country lying nortli of Lake 
Erie) their beaver- hunting coimtry;" "publislied by Act of Parlia- 
ment by Lewis Evans, June 22, 1755, and sold by R. Dodsley in 
Pall Mall, London, and by the author in Philadelphia. Engraved 
by James Turner, of Philadelphia." Being dedicated to the 
Hon^le Thomas Pownall, Esq., the map is illuminated M'ith the coat 
of arms of the Pownall family, blazoned as follows : Arms. Arg., a 
lion rampant, sa. charged on the breast with a cross pate of the 
first. Orest. A lion's jambe erased, erect ppr, grasping a key or, 
from which a chain is reflexed of the last. 2. "JL Mcq^ of the im- 
jproved part of the Province of Pennsylvania, humbly dedicated to 
the Hon. Thomas Pcnn and Richard Penn, JEsqrs., true and abso- 
lute Proprietaries and Governoi^s of the Province of Pennsylvania, 
and Counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex on Pelaivare, by 
Nicholas Scull, and published according to Act of Parliament, 
January 1, 1759." The formula of dedication appearing on this 
invaluable historical chart is inscribed within elaborate scroll- 
work, surrounded by the arms and crest of the Penn family bla- 
zoned thus: Arms. Arg. on a fess sa. three plates. Crest, A 
demi-lion rampant, ppr. gorged with a collar sa. charged wutli 
three plates. Motto. Mercy and Justice. 3. "A Map of the State 
of Pennsylvania, by Reading Hotvell. Respectfully inscribed to 
Thomas Miffiin, Governor, and to the Senate and House of Repre- 
sentatives of the Commomcealth of Pennsylvania by the author. 
Published August 1, 1792, for hhn, and sold by James Phillijjs, 
George's Yard, Lombard Street, LondonJ' This map is beautifully 
executed, and shows, to use the words of the draftsman, "the 
triangle lately purchased by Congress, and the boundary lines of 
the State as run by the respective Commissioners, with parts of 
Lake Erie and Presqu' Isle ; also by actual survey the rivers Sus- 
quehanna (its north-east and west branches), Tyoga, Sinnemahon- 
ing, Juniata, Lehigh, Jjexawacsein, Schuylkill, and the western 
rivers, Ohio, Alleghany, Conewango, — part of the Chautaughque 
Lake and French Creek, agreeable to the late discoveries, — the 
Monaungahela, Yaxhiogeni and Kiskemanetas; also the larger 
creeks, most of the lesser streams, mountains, the principal old 
roads, with the many new ones in the northern and western parts 
of the State, and portages and communications according to the 
late surveys by order of Government; furthermore the division 



6 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 

lines of the respective counties unci townships, a delineation of the 
districts of depreciation and donation lands, with all the other dis- 
tricts in the new purchase — besides the seats of justice in the re- 
spective counties, iron-works, mills, manufactories, locations of 
minerals, bridle-roads, Indian-paths, &c., &c." 

It was from a third edition of this map, that Mr. Heckewelder, 
as he tells us, copied the majority of names in his catalogue ; 
Proud's History of Pennsylvania (Phila. 1798) furnished him 
with a few, and his friend Samuel D. Pranks, of Harrisburg, with 
those occurring in Indian deeds preserved in the Laud Office of 
the Commonwealth. 

David Zeisberger's "Ks,'<ay of a Dclaivare Indian and English 
SpeUing-hook for the use of the Christian Indians on the Mushin- 
gum" (Phila. 1776) supplied the vocables which are incorporated 
in the notes for the purpose of confirming or illustrating Hecke- 
welder's interpretation. 

In conclusion, it may be stated that the Moravian missionaries 
of the last century were unanimous in pronouncing the Unami 
dialect of the Delaware, despite its many gutturals and aspirates, 
eminently musical, and well adapted by its structure to t|ie pur- 
poses of public harangue or oratory. A German tongue, they add, 
finds no difficulty in mastering even its characteristic sounds, aftd 
enjoys the advantage of meeting with vowels that differ as to 
their power, in no respect from those with which it is already 
familiar. The absence of the consonants r,f, and v, the accumu- 
lation of the k sounds (all enunciated from the depths of the throat), 
the paucity of monosyllabic and the abundance of compound and 
polysyllabic words, are marked peculiarities of this dialect. The 
last feature renders its acquisition extremely difficult. Finally, 
it should be kept in mind that in Avords of three syllables, the 
stress of the voice generally falls upon the penult ; in polysyllables, 
however, always; and that a violation of rules of accent, in most 
cases, involves an entire change of signification. 

John G. E. Heckewelder, missionary to the Delawares, was born 
March 12, 1743, in Bedford O. E. whither his fiither (who was a 
native of INIoravia), had been sent from Herrnhut, a few years pre- 
vious, to labor in tlic service of the Brethren's Church. His child- 
hood was spent at the Brethren's schools at Buttermere, in Wilts, 
and at Smith-house and Fulneck in Yorkshire. In 1754 he accom- 



MORAVIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 7 

paniecl his parents to Bethlehem, whence, on leaving school, he was 
placed at Christian's Spring, where he engaged in the labors of the 
farm, then worked by the young men of the settlement for the benefit 
of their Economy. He was next indentured to William Nixon a 
cedar-cooper at Bethlehem. It was while thus employed that the 
desire he had for some time felt of becoming an evangelist to the 
Indians was gratified, as in the spring of 1762 he was called to 
accompany Frederick Post, who bad planned a mission among the 
tribes of the far west, to the Tuscarawas branch of the Muskingum. 
But the Pontiac war broke out, and the adventurous attempt was 
abandoned before the expiration of the year. 

In the interval between 1763 and 1771, Mr. Hecke welder was 
occasionally dispatched from his cooper's shop in the capacity of 
a messenger or runner in the service of the mission, to Friedens- 
hiitten on the Wyalusing, and to Indian towns on the Susquehanna. 
The most active period of his life, however, dates from 1771, and 
covers an interval of fifteen years, during which he participated in 
the various fortunes of the Moravian Indians, accompanying them 
on their tedious migrations westward, — from the Susquehanna to 
the Allegheny, thence to the Big Beaver, and thence to the Mus- 
kingum, sharing their joys and their sorrows, in times of peace and 
war, " in journcyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, 
in perils of his countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in 
the wilderness, in weariness, in watchings often, in hunger and 
thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness ;" and, yet spared as 
to his life to a good old age, in the quiet days of which, Avhen rest- 
ing from his labors, he drew up his well known " Narrative" of 
eventful years in his own experience and in the history of his 
Churcli. 

In the autumn of 1786, on withdrawing from active service in 
the mission, Mr. Heckewelder settled with his wife (Sarah, m. n. 
Ohneberg, whom he had married in 1780) and two daughters at 
Bethlehem. This change, however, brought him no rest, as much 
of his time for the next fifteen years was devoted to the interests 
of the Church and her missions, in behalf of which he undertook 
frequent long and trying journeys. In 1792 and 1793, Govern- 
ment associated him with United States Commissioners to treat for 
peace with the Indiana of the Maumee and tiie Wabash. This 
was a high testimonial of confidence in his knowledge of Indian 



8 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 

life and lucliaii affairs. The remuneration he received for these 
services was judiciously economized for his old age, his immediate 
wants being supplied by his handicraft, and the income accruing 
from a nursery he had planted on his return from the western 
country. There are orchards still standing in the vicinity of Beth- 
lehem set out by John Heckewelder and his daughters. 

In 1801 he removed with his family to Gnadenhiitten on the 
Tuscarawas, and was a resident of the State of Ohio for nine years. 
Mr. Heckewelder now became a man of official business, having 
been entrusted by the " Society of the United Brethren for Propa- 
gating the Gospel among the Heathen,"* with the care of tiie 
reservation of 12,000 acres of land on the Muskingum, held in 
trust by said Society for the benefit of the Moravian Indians. He 
was also in the civil service, being a Postmaster and a Justice of 
the Peace. 

In 1810 he returned to Bethlehem, built a house (still standing 
on Cedar Alley), planted the premises with trees and shrubs from 
their native forest, surrounded himself with birds and wild flowers, 
and through these beautiful things of nature with which they were 
associated in their woodland homes, sought to prolong fellowship 
with his beloved Indians. In 1815 he was called to mourn the 
departure of his wife to the eternal world. 

At a time when there was a growing spirit of inquiry among 
men of science in the department of Indian archaeology, it need not 
surprise us, that Mr. Heckewelder was sought out in his retirement, 
and called on to contribute from the store of his ex]3erience. 
In this way originated his intimacy with Dnponceau and Wistar of 
the American Philosophical Society, and that career of literary labor 
to which he dedicated the lonely and latter years of his life. In ad- 
dition to occasional essays which are incorporated in the Transac- 
tions of that Society, Mr. Heckewelder in 1818 published his well 
known "Account of the History, Manners and Customs of the 
Indian nations who once inhabited Pennsylvania and the neigh- 
boring States," a work which was received with almost unqualified 
approbation. Fenimore Cooper, when venturing upon a new 
field of romance, drew much of his inspiration from the pages of 

* This Association, whose Board has its seat at Bethlehem, was incorporated 
in 1788. 



MORAVIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

:his fascinating volume. The " Narrative of the Mission of the 
United Brethren among the Delaware and Mohican Indians/' ap- 
peared in 1820, and in 1822, Mr. Heckewelder, at the request of 
members of the American Philosophical Society, made the collec- 
tion of Indian appellations here offered to the reader. This was 
one of his last efforts ; another year of suffering, and on the 30th 
of January, 1823, the friend of the Delawares, having lived to 
become a hoary old man of seventy-nine winters, passed away. 

He left three daughters; Johanna Maria, born April 16, 1781, 
at Salem, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, (she died at Bethlehem, 
Sept. 19, 1868); Anna Salome, born August 13, 1784, at New 
Gnadenhlitten on the river Huron, Michigan; (she married Joseph 
Rice of Bethlehem, and died January 15, 1857), and Susanna, 
born at Bethlehem Dec. 31, 1786; (she married J. Christian Luck- 
enbach of Bethlehem, and died Feb. 8, 1867). 

Mr. Heckewelder was a fair representative of the Moravian mis- 
sionary of the last century, — one of a class of men whose time was 
necessarily divided betwen the discharge of spiritual and secular 
duties; who preached the Gospel and administered the sacraments 
in houses built by their own hands ; who wielded the axe as well as 
the sword of the Spirit, and who by lives of self-denial and patient 
endurance, sustained a mission among the aborigines of this coun- 
try in the face of disappointments and obstacles, wdiich would 
have discouraged any but men of their implicit faith in the Divine 
power of the Christian religion. 

The subject of this notice was no scholar; nor did he make any 
literary pretensions. Despite this, however, and although his mode 
of giving expression to thought is German, his writings are charac- 
terized by a pleasing simplicity of diction, and an honesty of pur- 
pose, which enlist the sympathy of the reader. It would be pre- 
sumptuous to claim for him infallibility, as we know that even the 
best of men are led astray, or err in their search after truth. It 
would be as presumptuous however to deny his statements all claim 
to respect. Hence we do not hesitate to say, that John Heckewel- 
der's contributions to the store of knowledge we possess respecting 
Indian traditions, language, manners and customs, and life and char- 
acter, are worthy of the degree of regard that is usually accorded 
to men of intelligence, and disinterestedness of purpose, whose 
position permitted them to ascertain or to observe what they relate. 
2. 



10 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 

For the curious reader, we append the following enumeration of 
his many journeys and their distances, found among Mr. Hecke- 
welder's private papers, in possession of Mv. Henry B. Lucken- 
bach, of Bethlehem, a grandson. 

John Heckewelder's Journeys between 1762 and 1814. 

Miles. 
1702. From Bethlehem (in company of Christ'n F. Post) to the Muskingum 

(Tuscarawas branch), and return 840 

1763. To New York, and return 200 

1765. To Friedenshiitten {Wyalusing) and, after a sojourn there, return 300 

1767. To Wyoming, and return 160 

1768. " " with the Brethren Zeisberger, Ettwein and Senseman, 

and return 160 

1769. To Friedenshiitten in the capacity of a messenger, (alone) 160 

1770. To Friedensliiitten and Shesliequin (Bradford County), as ditto 180 

Witii Bro. Kotbe, and Indians, return 180 

1771. To Friedenshiitten, in company of Zeisberger, and return..... 300 

" " tlience in Oct. with David Zeisberger to Friedens- 

siarlt (Town of Peace) in Delaware, Langunduotenink, on the Big 

Beaver ^80 

Tlience to Pittsburg, and return 120 

1772. In July, up the Allegheny (to meet the Christian Indians en route 

from' Friedensluilten to the Big Beaver, under conduct of the 
Brethren Kothe and Ettwein), and return ISO 

In August, with Zeisberger, Ettwein, and some Indian converts to 
Scltdnbnum (Beautiful Spring) in Delaware, Welhik-tuppeek [the best 
spring) on the Tuscarawas 80 

Eeturn to Friedensstadt with Zeisberger and Shebosh, and a second 
time to Schonbrunn 160 

1773. To Friedensstadt, by land 80 

Tlience, in April, down Beaver creek, by water, 30 

Tlience down to Ohio, to the month of the Muskingum (Elk's- 

J'Ji/e, compounded of moos, an elk, and irnsch-yink, the eyC; the 

face) I-'J*^ 

Thence up the Muskingum, by water, to Schonbrunn ItiO 

420 

1774. To Bethlehem, in company of some Indians by way of the Great 

fslctnd (in the Susquehanna) and Gnadenhiitten on the Mahoning, 
and return by the same route 800 

1775. In company of Shebosh and so-iie Indians, to the Mahoning, to <SW^- 

ht'unk, and LaiKjunduolenhik in search of stolen horses, and return.. 200 

1776. April ll. Moved to Lichtenau on tlie Tuscarawas with David Zeis- 

berger 48 

In the autumn, returned to keep school at Schiinbrunu 42 

1777. Tiience to Bethlehem, alone 420 

1778. From Bethlehem (in March) to Pittsburg and Eiclitenau 4o0 

Thence to Tv.scarmva(i, and return with some Indians 110 

1779. A second journey to Tuscarawas, and return with some Indians IKJ 

1780. Moved to Salem, journeying by water 4-) 

1781. Taken as prisoner of war to Upper Sandusky • 100 

Thence with Zeisberger, Edwards, Senseman and some Indians to 

Detroit H" 

Return to Upper Sandusky 110 

1782. A second time to Detroit (all the missionaries) 110 

Tlience to Huron Kiver and return, by water 80 

Thence a second time to Huron Kiver 40 

1783. In May from Huron Kiver to Detroit, and return liy water 80 



MORAVIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 11 

Ill October, in company of Senseinan, from Huron Kiver to Detroit, 
and return by water 80 

1784. From Huron Kiver to Detroit, and return 80 

1785. Do. do. do. twice IGO 

178G. From Huron River llie last time to Detroit, and tbence to Cayahaga 

(in NortliEastern Ohio) 160 

Thence, in the autumn, with my family, to Bethlehem 420 

1787. In company of Michael Jung and Weygand to Pittsburg, and return.. 040 
In October, with Bro. Ettwein, by way of Staten Island to New Yoric. ICO 
Keturii to Bethlehem, by way of Hope, New Jersey loO 

1788. In August to New York (for warrants), and return 200 

In September, in company of Matt' w Blickeusderfer to Pittsburg, and 

thence with Capt. Hutchins, Surveyor General, by water to Marietta, 

and(after nine weeks stay) return 940 

1789. Accompanied Bro. Abraham Steiner to PeAquottink, and return 980 

In September with Bro. Charles Culver to Carlisle, and return 230 

1792. At Washington's request was commissioned by Gen. Knox, Secretary 

of War, to accompany Gen. Putnam to the Wabash, and aid in 
opening negotiations for a peace with the Indians — traveling thus: 

From Bethlehem to Pittsburg .''>20 

From Pittsburg, by water, to the W^abash 1022 

Up the Wabash to Post Vincennes 100 

From Post Vincennes by land to the Falls of Ohio 150 

Fromtlie Falls of Ohio to Pittsburg 705 

From Pittsburg, via Bethlehem, to Philadelnhia 370 

2727 

1793. At the request of Government, accompanied GJen. Lincoln^ Col. Pick- 

ering and ex-Governor Beverly Randolph, (appointed Commis- 
sioners to treat with the friendly Indians on the Miami) via FMiila- 
delpbia, New Y'ork, Albany, Schenectady, Fort Stanwix, Oneida 

Lake, Oswego, Niagara and Lake Erie, as far as Detroit 800 

From Detroit, alone to Fairfield, Lipper Cauada and return 140 

From Detroit to Bethlehem, as follows: across Lake Erie to Ni- 
agara — across Lake Ontario to Kingston — from Kingston down 
the St. Lawrence to Montreal — thence by land to St. Joluis — thence 
down Lake Champlain to Skenesborough or Whitehall — thence 
along the Hudson to Albany — thence by sloop to New York, and 

tbence to Bethlehem 1310 

179-. Accompanied Jacob Eyerly as far as Pittsburg — he was on his way 

to survey lands on French Creek, and return 620 

1797. In company of Bro. William Henry and others, to the Muskingum 410 

From (Jnadeniiiitten through the wilderness (accompanied part of the 
way by an Indian) to Marietta 125 

Return, with Gen. Putnam (engaged in a survey) to Gnadeniiiitteii, 
and thence to the Tuscarawas Fording Place 200 

A second time to Marietta by water, and thence to Bethlehem 640 

1798. Accompanied Bro. Benjamin Mortimer to Fairfield, U. C, traveling 

through the Gencssee country to BuHalo, thence by way of Black 
Rock, Niagara Falls, Queenstown, Newark (head of Lake Ontario) 
Burlington Heights, Grand River (or Brandt's Town), the Pinery, 
and JMonsey Town .'.. 5;i0 

From Fairlield (in company of William Edwards and two Indians) 
by way of Detroit, Brownstown, River Raisin, Miami, Old Fori, 
The Rapids, Upper Sandusky, Owl Creek and Walhending to Gna- 
denhiitten 270 

Thence to Pittsburg, in comi)aiiy of Bro. Mortimer (to escort El- 
dridge), and return '200 

In the autumn, in company of Bro. Mortimer (who along with Zeis- 
berger had led some Indians from Fairtield to Gnadenhiitten) to 
Bethlehem 410 



12 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 

1799. To Muskingum, and return 8'20 

1800. Accompanied Bro. Christian Fdc. Dencke to Gnadenhiitten 410 

Thence in the autumn to Pittsburg, and from there by way of Fort 

Franklin and Meadville to La Boeuf, pursuant to commission re- 
ceived from the Directors of the " Society for Propagating the Gospel 
among the Heathen," to view its lands on French Creek ; thence via 
Pittsburg to Bethlehem 660 

1801. Moved witii my family to Muskingum 410 

To Marietta, and return 220 

1802. Do do 220 

To Bethlehem and return, at my own expense 820 

1803. To Marietta, and return 220 

In the autumn with Bro. Loskiel from Gnadenhiitten to Pittsburg, 

and return • 200 

1804. On official business (to appraise houses, &c.) to Zanesville and other 

towns, and return 140 

1805. To Zanesville and return 120 

1806. To do. (to pay taxes) and return 120 

Thence to Bethlehem and return via Philadelphia, at my own expense. 850 

1807. To Zanesville, and return 120 

1808. To do. (to pay taxes) and return 120 

1809. Appointed by the Assembly one of ihree commissioners to fix two new 

County seats, visiting Canton, Wooster, Eicliland, &c^ and return... 190 

To Zanesville, and return _••• 120 

In December, via Zanesville and New Lancaster to the^Assembly sit- 
ting in Ohio, and in January of 1810, return.. 245 

1810. To Zanesville (to pay taxes) and return 110 

In October removed with my family to Bethlehem 410 

Thereupon to Lancaster to present William Henry Ivillbuck's petition 

to the Assemby, and return to Philadelphia 190 

1813. For the last time m the Western country, traveling to Gnadenhiitten 
by way of Pittsburg, Harmony, Beaver Town, Tuscarawas and New 
Philadelphia. From Gnadenhiitten to Zanesville, and return to 
Betldehem 955 

26,257 



MOEAVIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 13 



1. DELAWARE NAMES OF RIVEES, STREAMS AND LOCALITIES IN 

PENNSYLVANIA. 

Allegheny, corrupted from AUigewi — the name of a race of 
Indians* said to have dwelt along the river of that name^f and in 

* Of the wars of the Lenape and Mengwe witli tlie Alligewi, and of the dis- 
comfiture and expulsion of the latter from Alligewinink, Heckewelder records the 
following tradition in his History of Indian Nations. The Lenape (the Dela- 
wares), resided many hundred years ago in a far distant country in the western 
part of tlie American Continent. For some reason they determined to migrate 
eastward, and accordingly set out in a body. After a very long journey and 
many nights' encampments by the way, they at length arrived at the Naviaesi 
Sipu (i. e. the Eiver of Fish, the Mississippi) where they fell in with the Mengwe 
(the Iroquois), who were likewise emigrating from a distant country in search of 
new homes, and who had struck that river somewhat higher up. Spies sent 
out in advance by the Lenape to reconnoitre had ascertained, before the arrival 
cf the main body of their people on the Mississippi, that the country east of it 
was inhabited by a very powerful nation, who had numerous large towns built on 
tlie rivers flowing through it. Tiiis was the nation of the Alligaii. I^Iany won- 
derful things are told of them. They are said to have been remarkably tall and 
stout, and even of gignntic stature, far exceeding in size the tallest of the Lenape. 
They were likewise .skilled in the arts of defensive warfare, of throwing up en- 
trenchments and of erecting fortifications, remains of some of which are to be seen 
at the present day in the western country. 

The Lenape, on arriving at the Mississippi, thought it prudent, before crossing 
the stream, to send a messenger to the Alligewi to request permission of them to 
settle in their neighborhood. This was refused. Instead, howevei", the Alligewi 
expressed a willingness to allow them a passage thvougli their country. The Le- 
nape accordingly began to cross the river. It was now that the Alligewi, on seeing 
that the strangers were a numerous people, (not to be counted by thousands), 
moved by fear, fell treacherously upon those who had already crossed, slew many 
of them, and threatened the others with annihilation' should they persist in tiie 
passage. On recovering from the surprise, the Lenape held a council, in which 
they considered what Avas best to be done, whether to retreat, or whether to mea- 
sure their strength with those who had cruelly betrayed their confidence. They 
felt disposed to do the latter, for they were a brave people, and incensed at the 
loss of their kinsmen. But prudence forbade them engaging in an unequal con- 
test, and they were about setting their faces westward, when the Mengwe, who 
from their encampment had been spectators of the unprovoked attack, proposed 
to render them assistance, to join them in a war of conquest and extermination 
with the Alligewi, and after its successful close, to share with them the conquered 
territory. " Thus," they said, '' their wanderings would end, and there they would 
find the homes in search of which they had left tiie setting sun." 

Having thus united their forces, the Lenape and Mengwe declared war against 



14 TEANS ACTIONS OF THE 

AlUgewininh, i, c, all the country west of the Alleghenies, draiiied 
by the tributaries of the Ohio and their numerous sources. The 
Shawauose called this river Palaiou-thepikL 

Appolacon, (emptying into the Susquehanna from the South, 
in Susquehanna County), corrupted from Apelogdcan, (in Miusi 
Delaware Apellochgacan), signifying, tvhence the messengei^ returned.X 

Aquanshicola, (emptying into the Lehigh from the north-east 
in Carbon County), corrupted from Achquoansch'wola, signifying, 
where we fish with the bush-net.^ 

the Alligewi, and grccit battles were fought, in which many warriors fell on both 
sides. It was a long and bloody contest, in which quarter was neither asked nor 
given. The enemy stockaded their large towns and erected fortifications, which 
the allies besieged, and sometimes took by storm. In a certain engagement the 
slain were thrown together in large heaps and covered with earth, — their places 
of sepulture forming tumuli or mounds, that for many generations marked the 
site of the great battle-field. Thus hard pressed the Alligewi, seeing their destruc- 
tion inevitable, withdrew from the contest, abandoned their country to the inva- 
ders, and fled down the Mississippi, never to return. Hereupon the conquerors 
made a division of the country, whereby the Mengwe came into possession of the 
lands about the great lakes and their tributary streams, the Lenape of those 
situate to the south, whence these gradually moved eastward, even to the Atlantic 
coast, until when the white man came, the Delaware or Lenapewihiituck (i. e., the 
river of the Lenape) was in the very heart of their settlements. 

f The Allegheny was called by the French, on their first hostile occupation o 
Pennsylvania territory in 1753, "La Belle Riviere" a name subsequently applied 
to the Ohio, the former being regarded not as a tributary, but as the main stream 
of the great river of Alligewinink. Hence, too, Indian traders also called the 
river below the Forks the Allegheny, or else used this name'and Ohio without dis- 
crimination when speaking of the great river of Western Pennsylvania. The 
Delawares called the Allegheny or Ohio, Kit-hanne, i. e., the main stream in its 
region of country, it being the same descriptive appellation by which they desig- 
nated their great river of the East, i. e., the Delaware. Jonah Davenport and 
.James Le Tort, Indian traders, iu Oct., 1731, reported that on Kiltanning liiver 
there dwelt mostly Delawares, 50 families, 100 men, with Kykenhammo, their chief. 
(See Delaware, Kittanning and Ohio, in this register.) 

% Al-lo-ga-can, a servant, a messenger. Zr. 

I Ach-quoa-ni-can a bush-net; ach-quo-ne-man, to lish with a bush-net; ach- 
qtvoa-na-u, caught with the bush-net. — Zr. "As soon as the shad {scha-wa-nam- 
meck, the south-fish, compounded of scha-iva-ne-u south, and na-mees fish) come from 
the south to deposit their spawn, running up the rivers from the sea, the Indians 
assemble for the annual fishery. And first they build a stone dam across the stream, 
the two wings or walls of which converge into a pound or wooden box, perforated 
with holes. This is the trap. A wild grape-vine of sufficient length to reach 
from shore to shore is then cut, and loaded down with brush, secured at intervals 
of from ten to fifteen feet. This barrier is stretched across the river, perhaps a 



moraviajSt historical society. 15 

AuGHWICK, (a tributary of the Juniata in Huntingdon County), 
corrupted from Achweeh, signifying brushy, i. e., overgrown with 
brush.^' 

Bald Eagle, (emptying into the Susquehanna from the south- 
mile above the pound, and being held in position by Indians in canoes, is slowly 
towed down stream. The frightened fish are driven before it back into the dam, 
and thence by the Indians, posted on its walls, into the pound, where they are 
caught by hand. As many as a thousand are known to have been taken in this 
way in a morning. The Delawares called March the shad-month." — Loskiel's His- 
tory of the Moravian Mission among the North American Indians. 

The narrow valley or gorge of the Aquanshicola (written sometimes Aqvansha- 
hales in old deeds), was visited by Zinzendorf in July of 1742, and by missionaries 
from Bethlehem, until the commencement of Indian hostilities in the foil of 1755. 
It most have been a favorite planting-spot of the Delawares. It may have been 
inhabited by even an earlier race, by a race of strong men that wrought in stone 
as we do in wood, handling and fashioning huge blocks taken out of the mountain 
side, with the same ease and accuracy of design as with which are fashioned the 
lesser implements of war and the chase, found so plentifully along the Aquanschi- 
cola. If ever there was a relic of a "stone-age," it is the so-called " Indian mill 
{tach-quoa-hoa-can) of the Aquanschicola," now in the museum of Mr. Kichard 
Crist of Nazareth, Pa. Of its history we know only the following: Mr. Chas. E. 
Buskirk of Chestnut Hill Township, now sixty-five years of age, states that in his 
grandfather's time the mill was discovered, partially embedded in the ground, 
near the foot of the mountain on the left bank of the creek, not far from the Ko.ss 
Common Tavern, and at once became an object of curiosity to the neighborhood, 
as well as to passing travelers. In 1860, Mr. Reuben Hartzell, on whose land 
it lay, had it disinterred, removed and set up in front of the Tavern. Mr. Crist 
purchased and had it conveyed to Nazareth in Sept. of 1869. This unique piece 
of antiquity is wrought from a solid block of gray sandstone, and in form is a per- 
fect frustum of a cone, with an altitude of three feet, the diameter of the lower 
base being the same, and that of the upper base being one foot six inches. A 
funnel-shaped cavity tapering down from a ten-inch to a five-inch diameter, is 
chiseled into the block to the depth of two feet, at which point the polished cir- 
cumference shows where the stone that rjround or cut the corn, xevolved in its 
socket. From here the grist fell through a hole, nine inches square, morticed into 
the lower base. The weight of the block is 2185 pound,";. It would almost appear 
as if the mill were worked by an application of the povrer at the extremities of 
levers, fitted into the upright that carried the cutter or crusher at its base, after the 
fashion of a capstan — that the mill was placed over a pit, and that the gri.st was 
caught in bags or other receptacles jilaced in the latter. The crushing or cutting 
stone, although lost, is well remembered by inhabitants of Ro.ss Common. 

* A-che-we-u bushy. — Zr. An Indian village of this name, mentioned in Pro- 
vincial records prior to 1750, stood on Aughivicb Creek (it is said on tiie site of 
Shirleysburg) where Fort Shirley (so named in honor of Gen. Win. Shirley of 
Massachusetts) was built in 1756. (.Jeorge Croghan, a trader of note, and subst" 
quently Sir Wm. .Johnson's deputy in Indian afliiirs, resided previous to the 



16 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 

west in Clinton County), called by the Delawares Wapalanewacli- 
schiec-hdnne, i. e., the stream of the Bald Eagle's nest.^ 

Bald Eagle's NEST,t in Delaware, Wapalaneicachschiechey. 

Beaver Dam, (a branch of the Kiskiminetas in Westmoreland 
County), called by the Delawares Amochkpahds'mkX signifying 
rvhere the beaver has shut up the stream. 

Beaver River, (a branch of the Ohio in Beaver County), in 
Delaware, Amoclikioi-sipu,% i.e., heaver-river, or Amochk-hdnne, i. e.j 

Indian war at AiigJanck Old Tovm. In Sept. of 1754, Conrad Weisser treated witli 
tlie Delawares and Shawanese of the West, in belialf of tlie Province, at Augli- 
wick. 

* Woap-m and Woa-peeJc,, white. Woap-a-lanne, tlie bald eagle. Wach-scMe- 
chey, a nest. Ilan-ne, a stream. — Zr. 

t The name of an Indian village, situated above the confluence of Buffalo Eiin 
and Bald Eagle Creek (now in Centre County), and the residence of "Bald 
Eagle," a noted chief. Scull's map calls it simply "The Nest." It stood on the 
flats near Miiesbnrg, on the "Indian Path from the Great Island to Ohio." 

X A-mochk, a beaver. — Zr. 

§ Sipo and sipu, a river. Si-po-iit (diminutive), a creek. Si-punlc and Si pu- 
sing, at, or, in the river.— Zr. The Moravian missionary, C. Frederic Post, in the 
summer of 1758 undertook a perilous mission in behalf of the Proprietary Govern- 
ment to the Delawares of Ohio, — in the course of which he jienetrated the wilds 
of Pennsylvania to their extreme western limits. His journal appears in full in 
the third volume of the Archives of Pennsylvania. Accompanied by several 
friendly Indians, he set out from Bethlehem on the 19th of July for Fort Augusta, 
(Sunbury). There he took the path along the right bank of the West Branch, 
leading over the Chillisquaque, over Muncy, LoyalsocJc and Pine Creeks, — crossed 
the Susquelianna at the Oreat Island, and then struck one of the main Indian thor- 
oughfares to the West. On the od of July he forded Beech Creek, on whose left 
bank he came to the forks of the road. One branch led south-west along the 
Bald Eagle, ])aBt the Nest to Frankstown, and thence to the Ohio country; — the 
other due West to Chinklacamooie. Post took the latter. It led over the 3Iosh- 
annon, which he crossed on the 1st of August. Next day he arrived at the village 
of Chinklacamoose in the "Clear Fields." Hence the travelers struck a trail to the 
north-west, crossed Tobys Creek (Clarion Kiver), and on the 7th of August reached 
Fort Venango, built by the French in 17-53, in " the forks of the Allegheny." " I 
prayed the Lord," writes Post, " to blind the French, as he did the enemies of 
Lot and Elisha, that I might pass unknown." Leaving Venango, Post and his 
companions turned their horses' heads to the south-west, — struck the Conequenes- 
sing on the r2th of August,— crossed the Big Beaver, and next day arrived at 
Kaf<kaskic, the terminus of their journey and the head-quarters of "The Beaver" 
and "Shingas," war-chiefs of the Western Delawares. Post was, therefore, the 
first Moravian west of the Alleghenies. He closes his interesting journal with 
these words: "Tliirty-two days that I lay in the woods, the lieavens were my 
covering, and the dew fell so hafd sometimes, that it })ricked close to the skin. 



MORAVIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 17 

beaver-stream. The lii<liun.s, however, called the river Kaskaskle- 
sipH, from the town of Kaskaskie on its bank. 

Beech Creek, (a brancli of the Bald Eagle in Centre County), 
in Delaware, S,chauweridnsch-hannc,-\ i. e., beech-stream. 

Black Lick, (a branch of the Two Licks in Indiana County) — 
in Delaware, Nfeskalwni, i. e., a lick of blackish color. X 

Brushy Creek, (a branch of the Conequenessing in Beaver 
County) — in Delaware, Achiceck, i. e., bx.shy, or overgrown with 
brush. • 



During this lime notliing lay so lieavily on my heart as tlie man who went along 
with me (Sluniwkiii Daniel), for he thwarted me in everything I said or did ; not 
that he did it against me, but against the country on wiiose business I was sent. 
When he was with the French he would speak against the English, and when he 
was with the English he would speak against the French. The Indians observed 
that he was unreliable, and desired me nut to bring him any more to transact 
business between them and the Province. And it was owing to him, too, that 1 
failed in obtaining an interview with the prisoners. But praise and glory be to 
llie Lamb that was slain, who brought me through a country of dreadful jealousy 
and mistrust, where the I'rince of this v/orld holds rule and government over the 
children of disobedience. It was my Lord who preserved me amid all difficulties 
and dangers, and His Holy Spirit directed me. I had no one to commune with 
but Him; and it was He who brought me from under a thick, heavy and dark 
cloud into the open air, for which 1 adore, and praise and worship Him. I know 
and confess that He, the Lord my God, the same who forgave my sins and washed 
my heart in his most precious blood, grasped me in his almighty hand and held 
me safe — and hence I live no longer for myself, but for Him, whose holy will to 
do is my chiefest pleasure." 

The town, or towns of A''^^•/'/^■^vr [the. KiCilcasktca)^ are tirst mentioned in official 
records, in Weisser's .Journal of his Proceedings at Logstown, lifteen miles below 
Pittsburg, on the right bank of the Ohio. "To-day (Aug. 2yth, 17-lti), he writes, 
"my companions went to Kaskankie, a large Indian town about thirty miles oft." 
" Early this morning," (Aug. 17th, 17o8) writes Post in his Journal, •' the Indians 
called all the people together to clear the place where they intended to hold the 
Council, it being in the midst of the town. Kankuskie is divided into forir town.", 
each at a distance from the other, and the whole settlement consists of about 
ninety houses and two hundred able warriors." 

Howell's Map notes Knxkiiakic on the Little Bearer or Mahuniwj Vrrck, now in 
Lawrence County. Heckewelder crossed the Bi<j Beaver in April of 1762, then 
on his way with Post to the Tuscarawas, (in Stark County, Ohio), the first .scene 
of his missionary labors. Between 1770 and 1773 Moravian Indians under Zeis- 
berger w-ere settled at Friedensi^tadt (Town of Peace I, on the West bank of the Big 
Beaver, in the southern part of Lawrence (Joiuity, about 15 miles south-east from 
Kaskaskie. Howell's Map notes the site of the Moravian settlement. 

t Schau-we-min-schi^ the red-beech tree. — Zr. 

X Nees-ki-it^ black. Xes'Ca-kiik^ a negro. Ma-ho-ni/j u lick. — /^r. 



18 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 

Buffalo Creek, (a branch of the Alleglieny in Armstrong 
County) — in De\a.wiiYe,Sisilie-Ji.dnne, i. e,, bujfalo-stream —a. stream 
whose banks are the resort of the buffalo, 

/^Catasauqua, (an affluent of tiie Lehigh from the North-east in 
Northami)tou County), corrupted from Gattoshdchi^ signifying, 
the earth thirsts, viz. for rain. 

Cat-FI8H Run, (a small stream near the borough of Washing- 
ton, Washington County). The Delavvarcs called it ]\lsamekin(/'\ 
signifying, witere tliere is a Cat-fish,, icJiere the Cat-fish dwells. 

Catawissa, (a branch of the Susquehanna in Columbia County), 
corrupted from Gattawisi,X signitying-^(ro?/;/y(y^/. (Xotc. Proba- 
bly the Indians who named the place, had shot a deer along the 
creek in the season when deer fatten.) 

Cawansiiannoc'K, (a bi-auch of . the Allegheny in Armstrong 
County), corrui)ted from Gawwasch-lumne, signifying green-brier 
stream. 

Chester River, (in Delaware County), (.-ailed in early deeds 
Macopanackhan,^ corrupted from Meedioppennckhan, signifying, 
tlie large potato sfrcaiit, i, e., the stream along which large potatoes 

grow. 

Chickuansink, corrupted from Tshic/:h('nisink,\\ signifying, 
where we were robbed, — the place of t/ie robbery. 

Chickisaltixga,T| (emptying into the Susquehaiuui from tlie 



* Gat-ios-so-mo, to thirst. Ihtc/ci, the eartli, tlie land.— Z/-. Tiie name is writ- 
ten Call suk and Culiid<n/iui, in old deeds. Scull's and Howell's Maps call the 
stream Mill Cn-A\ Seotcli- Irish immigrants from lUster .settled on its l;)anks as 
early as IToT. Tiiey were the lirst white residents wiiliin the present limits of 
Northampton comity. 

f Wi-sa-meek, a cat-tisli. Compounded of wish, lat, and na-mecs, a tish. — Zr. 
" Catfish Camp," formerly on the site of the borough of Washington, wa.s so called 
for the head man of the village, a half-breed, Cat-jlsh by name. 

t Wi-sa-hem, to fatten. K7-«m, fat.— Zr. Culawi.ynu, is regarded by some, as a 
corruption of Gtimnrrs/-, and us designating the region to which the Conoys re- 
tired, on withdrawing from the limits of Lancaster county. See Conoy in this 
paper. 

^ Mi'-c/ieik Am\ Ma-cluce-u,\a\-ne. Ilob-tie-mir^ ^nA-Aiona.—Zr. The name occurs 
in an Indian deed executed to William Penn, the 14th day of .5lh mo., IG80, " for 
lands lying between J/'/"«»"t/c, alias Scluiylkill and Miicopnn<irk/i>ni, alias Ches- 
ter River." The Swedes called the stream Oplaml Kill. 

II A-men-Uchiech-/in, to rob, to plunder. Me-hu.-men.lachit, a robber.— i^/-. 

'I Shortened into C'lii'juis and Sidunja, both post-towns in Lancaster County. 



MORAVIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY* 19 

North-east in Lancaster County), corrupted from Chichiswahmgo, 
the 2il(ice of the crawfish, i.e., where the ground is full of holes 
hored by the crab or craw-fish. 

Chillisquaque,* (emptying into the Susquehanna from the 
North-east in Northumberland County), corrupted from Chili/i- 
nuagi signifying, the place of snotv -birds. 

CHiXKLACAMOOSEjt "ow shortened into Moose, (emptying into 
the Susquehanna from the North-east in Clearfield County, "the 
Clear Fields'^), corrupted from Achtschingi-clamme, signifying, it 
almost joins, in allusion to a horse-shoe bend in the stream, whose 
extremities almost unite. 

Choconut, (emptying into the Susquehanna in the County of 
that name) corrupted from the Nanticoke word I'schochnot. 

Clarion River,| (a branch of the Allegheny draining Clarion 
County), called by the Delawares, Gawunsch-hanne, i. e,, brier- 
stream, — the stream Mdiose banks are overgrown with the green- 
brier. 

Coaquannock,§ the, name by which the site of Philadelphia 



* Scull's Map locates an Indian village of the same name at the mouth of the 
creek. "An old Shawano took us in his canoe across the creek at Zilhj-squachne., 
for which service I gave him some needles and a pair of shoe strings." — C. Weis- 
xfr'a Journal to OnonrJiir/n. March, 17o7. 

t On the site of the county-town of Clearfield, there stood in olden times the 
village of Chinklacamoose, written ChinglfrdHKinrJir, on Scull's Map. It was the 
central point of the great "Chinklacamoose Path." Post lodged at this village 
on his way to the Ohio country in the night of August 2d, ]7o8. " We arrived," 
he writes in his .Tournal, "this night at Slnui/liunicr, where we saw the posts 
painted red and stuck in the ground, to which the Indians tie Iheir prisoners. It 
is a disagreeable and melancholy sight to see the means titey use to punish flesh 
and blood." 

'•July 14lh, 1772. We came to the Clearfield creek, so called by the Indiann 
because on its banks there are acres of land that resemble 'clearings;' — the buf- 
falo that resort hither, having destroyed every vestige of undergrowth, and left 
the face of the country as bare as though it had been cleared by the grub-axe of 
the pioneer." — John Eltti-riii\'< Jovrnnl nf tlu' Mir/rnlion nf ihf MoravUin Inainn)' to 
the Big Beaver. 

X Formerly called Toliifx Cmk. 

\ "The Proprietary having now returned from Maryland lo C'"(/7«(/««or/,, the 
place so called by the Indians, where Philadelphia now stands, began to purchase 
lands of the Indians." ProxuVs History of Pennxi/lrama, Vol. 1, p. 211, Penn 
])urchased Coaquannovk, the site of his intended capital, from the three brothers, 
Andrew, Swen and Ole Swenson, early Swedish settlers on Delaware, — said bro- 
thers or other whites having bought the Indian claim, prior to his arrival in the 



20 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 

was known to the Indians, is a corruption of Cnvequenahu, signify- 
ing, the grove of tall pines. 

CoCALiCO, (a branch of the Conestoga in Ijancaster County), 
corrupted from Acligoohwalico,^ (sliortened into Chgokalico), s\g,m- 
tying, ichere the snahes collect in dens to ^jass the winter. {Note. 
This spot along the Creek was well known to the Indians.) 

CocoosiNG, (a branch of the Tnlpehocken in Berks County), 
corrupted from Golchosing,'\ signifying, vJiere oicls are, the place of 
oirls. 

CoHOCKSiNK, corrupted from Cuwenhasinh,X signifying, wliere 
the pines grow, — ichere there are pinelands. 

CoNESTOGA,§ an Iroquois word. 



country in October of 1682. "Tlie Proprietor at liis first arrival, finding tlie 
Swedes possessed of the most valuable tracts of latul ou the front of the river, 
without inrjuiring into the validity of their titles, but considering tliem as strang- 
ers in an English government, through his known benevolence to mankind was 
pleased so far to distinguish them by his favors as to confirm to all such as aji- 
]ilied to l»im all their just claims, to the great disappointment of those English 
adventurers who embarked with him and hazarded their lives and fortunes in the 
commendable design of peopling this colony ; or where it was found necessary to 
ap])ly any of those claims to other purposes, he was pleased to make very ample 
compensation for them ; a {)regnant instance of wliich, is his grant of OflO aoi'es 
of land to the Swensons in lieu of a very slender claim they had to about half that 
cpiantity in the place where it was judged most convenient this city should be 
built." — Report of Petition of the Swedes, 1721. J'enn'a Archives, Vol. 1, p. 172. 

* Acli-ijook, a Buake. Woa-lac, a hole. Suck-ack-goolc, a black snake — M'hi- 
(ich-i/ook, a water-snake; — Ax-f/ash-achf/ook, a green snake; — Mdch-i/t-u-ncli-ijook, 
a copper-snake. — Zr. 

lleckewelder, in his Narrative, states that the Western Indians, who were sig- 
nally defeated by Gen. Wayne at the Rapids of the Miami in August of 1794, call- 
ed him Siickachyook, because of the caution and cunning he displayed in his move- 
ments throughout the campaign. 

f Gok-hoos, an owl, Gok-ho-tii, an owlet.— Z/-. Ink, the local suffix nl, or, irhere. 
On Dec. 28, 1742, Zinzendorf preached in a farm-house on the Cocoosing. 

X Cu-u-e, a pine. ILi-cki, land. — Zr. Jiik, the local suffix at, or where. 

'i On the flats east of Turkey Hill at the mouth of the Conestoga in Manor 
Township, dwelt the small tribe of the Conestogas, whom Wm. Penn is said to 
have visited in their town, and to retain whose friendship despite the macliina- 
tions of French emissaries, his Lieut. Governors exercised constant precaution. 
Hence Jame.s Logan repaired to Conestoga in 1705, (iov. Evans in 1707, (iov. 
(iookin in 1710, Gov. Keith in 1717 and Gov. Gordon in 1728. TdgndalenKa, or 
Civility, a chief of this tribe is oflen named in the records of those days. It was 
he who wrote that touching letter in which grief for the loss of a beloved child 
appears in almost every line. " Tlie late death of my child causes su much trouble 



MORAVIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 21 

CoNEWANGO, (a branch of the Allegheny in Warren Connty), 
corrupted from Guneunga/^ signifying, fliey have been gone a long 
time, they stay a long time. 

CoNEWANTA, (emptying into the Susquehanna in the County of 
that name) rorru}ite(l frnm Ouvci'inga, signifying, tJiey stay long 
time. 

CONNEAUT, (a branch of French Creek in Crawford County), 
corrupted from Gnnniati, signifying, it is a long time since he or 
they are gone. 

CoNOCOCHEAGUE,t (a branch of the Potomac draining Franklin 
County), corrupted from Guneukitschil:, signifying, indeed a long 
ira.y ! a name expressive of impatience manifested by a company 
of Indians travelino- along; the stream. 

CoNODOGWiNET, (a branch of the Susquehanna draining Cum- 
berland County), corrupted from G}innvpducl^hannet,% signifying, 
for a long icay nothing but bends. 

CoNONODAW, (one of the head branches of the Allegheny in 
McKean County), corrupted from Gunnidda, signifying, he tarries 
long. [Note. A name ex])ressive of the impatience of some In- 



aiul sorrow :it tliis time, it puts all oilier thoughts out of my niiud — my grief and 
sorrow ovei power me — my eyes are full of tears for the sake of my child. My 
trouble is so great at this time tiiat it j)uts all other thoughts out of my mind, so 
that I do nothing but cry every day. When my grief anil sorrow are a little over, 
you sliall hear from us, even if 1 do not come myself!" The Conestogas remained 
on tlieir old seats long after the oilier Indians on tlie Susquehanna had been 
crowded by the advance of civilization beyond Shamokin, and it was upward of 
sixty years after William Penn had been at tlieir town, and full twenty-five aflcr 
Tayodalesna has ceased grieving for his child, that they were barbarously exter- 
minated to a man, by the Scotch-Irish partisans of Paxton. 

* Gu-nr u^\oug. (lii-iii(x-ii^\i is long. (!ii-/ii. n long while. (li(-n<i i/r-u^ he 
atay.s long — Zi . 

f Gu-ne w, long. Jfi-l.fchi-ici, indeed. — Zr. Tiie valley of the Conococheague 
was explored and settled about 17:30, by Scotch- Irish pioneers, among whom were 
three brothers, by the name of (.'hambers. The site of Chambersburg at the con- 
tinence of Failing Spring and the Conococheague was built on by Jo.seph Chamberi). 
The " Conococheague Settlement" suffered much from the Indians, after l^rad- 
dock's defeat in 175.5. Moravian itinerants visited the lower valley in Maryland, 
as early at 1748. 

i <lii-ne-ii^ Jong. l"[nlc lininu-^ a bend in a river. — Zr. An inspection "f the 
map will .show the appropriate application of this euphonious Indian name. 
When John Harris settled on Paxton Creek, (see Paxton in this register) there 
were Sliawanese jjlanting at the mouth of the Conodogwinet, on the right bank 
of the Susqehanna. 



22 Transactions oi' the 

(lians, when halting along the creek to await the return of one ol' 
their companions.) 

CONOQUENESSING, (a branch of the Allegheny, draining Butler 
County), corrupted from Gimachqiienesink* signifying, for a long 
icay straight. 

CoNOYjt (a small creek emptying into the Susquehanna in Lan- 
caster County), corrupted from Guneu, signifying, long. 

* Gu-ne-u, 'ong, Scha-chach-ge-Uj straight. — Zr. 

t This creek perpetuates the name of the Cono]i, (janaweie or Piscatnu-a Indi- 
ans, who in 1700 entered the Province fiora the South, and settled "near the head 
of Potomok." For upwards of 40 years, we find their deputies participating in 
conferences held with Wni. Penn, or with the Proprietaries' Governors at Phila- 
delphia, or on the Susquehatnia. In 1705, (at which time they were reduced by 
sickness to a small number) they requested permission of Gov. Evans, through 
MaiKi))//!/, "the Ir)dian Chief on Schuylkill," to settle among the Schuylkill Indi- 
ans near Tiiljie/iockeii. Instead, however, they planted so?)u- inilex above Conestoi/n, 
at Co?ine/ii/ii'ra. Their village here was called Dekanouga, and the Governor 
states it to have been iiine miles distant from Pequea, In 1719, the Conoy Town, we 
learn, was a halting-point for warriors of the Five Nations, as they returned north 
from marauds against the Catawbas of Virginia and the Carolinas. In June of 
1733 the Co«o//« or (ranawcse "living between Paxton and Conestoga," sent a 
messenger to Shikellimy of Shamokin, (for being tributaries of the Six Nations 
they looked to Shikellimy for counsel ) to inform him of intelligence come to them, 
to the effect that the Governor of Virginia was about to send a party of armed men 
locut them off for a murder committed within his jurisdiction, and charged to tliem. 

In May of 1743, Gov. Thomas laid before the Board the following letter writ- 
ten by Thomas Cookson, of Lancaster, at the instance of the Conoy Indians. "The 
Indians of the Coiioi/lon-ii on Ihp fast xiile of Su-'^qar/ianna^ in April last, sent me a 
message, signifying their having something to conmiunicate to your Honor, and 
<lesired me to be at home on the 1 1th of the same month, on wliich day they came 
ilown to the number of fourteen. Having invited them into the house, Old Sack, 
their chief, spoke to the following purpose: We desire you to acquaint our brother 
the Ciovernor, that our forefathers came from Piscatua to an island in Potomock, 
and from there down to Philadelpliia in old Projjrietor Penn's time (May 1701) 
in order to show their friendship to tlie Proprietor; — that after their return they 
lirought down all their brothers from Potomock to Coiirjo/iala, on the east side of 
Susquehanna, and built a town there, — that the Six Nations had told them there 
was land enough, they might choose their place of settlement any where about 
Susquehanna, — that accordingly they thought lit to remove higher up that river 
to the Conoytown where they now live; and on their first settling there, the In- 
dians of the Six Nations came down and made ibeir fire, and all the great men 
declared the fire of their kindling to be in token of their approbation of the settle- 
ment ; but that now the land all around I hem being settled bi' white people, their 
hunting is spoiled, and they have been long advised by the Six Nations to leave 
their place and go higher up the river, either at the mouth q[ Conedoc/iriiiet or of «/«- 



MORAVIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 23 

CoSHECTOX, (a branch of the Susquehanna in the County of that 
name) corrupted from UlschiecJtton* signifying, Jinished, complete. 

CowANESQUE, (a branch of the Tioga in Tioga County), cor- 
rupted from Gawimshesqiw, signifying overgroicn with briers, briery. 

Crooked Creek, (emptying into the Allegheny from the South- 
east in Armstrong County),— in Delaware, Woak-hunne,'\ i. e,, 
crooked stream, the streams with large bends. 

Cross Creek, (a branch of the Ohio, heading in Washington 
County.). A creek bearing the same name empties into the Ohio 
from the West. The two are called the Cross Creeks — in Delaware, 
Wewuiitschi saqidck, words signifying, two .'<tremiis fiowing into a 
ricer at the same jiointfrom opposite directions. 

Delaware River,| called by the Delawares Leaape-wihittuck, 
I. e., the river of the Lenape. Also Kit-hanne, (in Minsi Delaware 
Gicht-hanne) signifying, the mainstream in its region of country. 

Duck Creek, (in Delaware) called in early Indian deeds Quiny 
Quingus,^ corrupted from Quiquingus, the Delaware name for the 
mallard, or common loild duck. 

Elk Creek, (emptying into the Susquehanna from the South, 
in Lycoming County), — in Delaware 3Ios-hdnne or 3Ioos-hdn7ie,\\ 
i. e., Elk-streani. 



iiiada, or to Slunnokin." In August of 1744, Shikelliiny reported to the Governor, 
that "the Conoy Indians having moved higher up to be nearer us. we desire to 
inform the Governor of it, and on tlieir behalf give tliis string of wampum." In 
1749 tiie Conoys were residing "among otlier Indian nations at Juniata." Con- 
ni'irk, represented tiie Conoys, in a private conference lield by tlie Proprietaries' 
agents with the ciiief of the United Nations, at the house of Adam Yohe in Eas- 
ton, Oct. 24, 1758. Bainbridge, at tlie moutli of the Conoy in Conoy township, is 
said to occupy tlie site of the last seltlenient of the (Janawese in Lancaster county. 

* Gi-schieck-cn, Uni.shed, done.— z^/'. 

f Woak-tschin-ni, to bend. Woak-tschr-u^ crooked.—///". 

J Len-na-pr, an Indian. Lcn-na-pe-wak, Indians. — Zr. The Dutch who were 
the first Europeans to .sail up the Delaware named it in contradistinction from the 
North Kiver, Ziti/dt or South Rircr. It takes its present name from Lord De la 
Ware, Governor of Virginia, who passed the Capes in ItUO. — Kik-hi-am and 
Kik-hit-tuk, a large river. Kid-han niink, in, or, at the large or main river. — Zr. 

^ Qid-quin-ijus, large ducks. — Zr. This name occurs in a deed executed to 
\Vm. Penn, by certain Indian kings, Sachemakers (5(/-A «-«((/, chief, king. — Zr.) 
at New Castle, the 2d day of 8 mo. 1085, for lands "from Quing Quin-gus, called 
Duck Creek unto Upland, called (Jhester Creek, all along by the west side of Dela- 
ware Kiver, and so between the said Creeks backwards, as far as a man can ride 
in two days with a horse." 

[1 Moots, a cow. Moo-sakj cattle. — Zr. 



24 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 

Elk Lick, (one of the sources of the SiiHieinahoiiinu; in Potter 
County), — in Delaware, Mosi-mahoni. 

Equinunk, (emtying into the Delaware iVoui the south-west 
in Wayne County.) The word is Delaware, and signifies, xchcrc 
articles of cloth'mg were distributed. 

Fishing Creek, (emptying into the Bahl Eagle from the Soutii, 
in Clinton County,) in Delaware, Xamees-Junine,'-'' i. c, fah-stream, 

HocKENDAUQUA, (emptying into the I^ehigh from the North- 
east in Northampton County), corrupted from HaGhiundoclvwe,'\ 
signifying, searchiny for bind. (Note. Probably some whites were 
observed by the Indians surveying or ])rospecting along this stream.) 

HoPPENY Creek, (emptying into the Susquehanna from the 
West, in Wyoming County), corrupted from Hobbenlsink,t signify- 
ing, where there are wild potcdoe^^. 

Juniata, § an Irocpiois word. The Dehiwares say Juchniada, 
or Chuchniada. (Note. The Iro(|Uois had a path leading to a 
JShawanese town on the Raystown branch of the Juniata, sit'.iated, 
I am told on the site of Bedford.) 



* Xa-mec'gj a fish. Xti-tne-.'nic, fishes, ya-iiifv-si-puok, it tastes fisliy. — Zr. 
. j JIa-cki, land. Un-dooch-ivrn^ to come for some purpose. — Zr. Surveyor- 
General Eastburii's Map of the Forks of Delaware, drawn in 1740, notes tliree 
surveys on the Ilockendauqiui, one of 1800 acres, another of 1426 acres, marked 
WilUa in Allen, and a third of 1500 acres, marked John Page. These surveys were 
made prior to the walk of a day and a half in Sept. of 1737. Luppairinzoe (whose 
portrait was presented to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, hy the late 
(iranville Penn), at that time king of Hockendauqua, witnessed the walk in part, 
and expressed liis dissatifaction at the walkers in the memorable words — "No 
sit down to smoke — no shoot a squirrel ; but lun, luu, luu ail tlay long!" His 
village lay between Howell's grist-mill and the mouth of the C'reek. Near it the 
tired walkers passed the night of tlie 19th and 20th of September, on the comple- 
tion of a twelve hours' walk, bivouacking before a blazing fire, while the Indians in 
tiie village below prolonged a cantico till into the hours of liie early morning. 

f Hohhenac, wild potatoes. — Zi . 

I Written also <S^oo/-oo«/a(///, C'/fo///;//'^ and Cliininihi. " Sliikellimy then asked 
the Proprietor (Tlios. Penn) whether he had heard of a letter which he and Sas- 
soonan ( Allummapees) had sent to John Harris to desire him to desist from mak- 
ing a plantation at the mouth of Chonutta, where Harris had built a house and is 
clearing fields. They were told that Harris had only built the house for carry- 
ing on his trade,- that his plantation at Paxlon is his place of dwelling, and it is 
not to be supposed he will remove from thence. Shikellimy said he had no ill 
will to .John Harris, it not being his custom to bear any man ill will, but he is 
afraid that the warriors of the Six Nations when they pass that way may take it 



MORAVIAN HISTORICAL, SOCIETY. 2o 

Kenjua, (a branch of the Allegheny, heading in McKean 
County), corrupted from Kentschuah, signifying, they gobble. {Note. 
The creek was evidently a resort of wild turkeys, the name it bears 
alluding to the gobbling with which the turkey-cock responds to 
the call of his mate.) 

KiGiscHGOTAM, corrupted from Kikischcotam* Delaware for 
hat If -did. 

KiKiTSCHiMUS, (Duck Creek) corrupted from KiJd(scJmnus,f 
Delaware for wood or tree-ducJc. 

KiSHicoQUiLLASjJ (emptying into the Juniata from the North, 
in Mifflin County), corrupted from Gischichgahicalis, signifying, 
the snakes are already in their dens; compounded of gischi, already 
— achgook, snakes — and walieu, in dens. 

KiSKiMiNETAS or Coucmaugh, (a branch of the Allegheny divid- 
ing Armstrong and Indiana Counties from Westmoreland), cor- 
rupted from Gieschgumanito,^ signifying, ma/ce daylight! [Note. 

ill to see a settlement made on lands which they have always desired to be kept 
free." Minutes of Prov. Council, June 19, 1733. 

" Bro. Onas ! The Dutchman on Scokooniady claims a right to the land merely 
because he gave a little victuals to our warriors, who stand very often in need of 
it. This string of wampum serves to take the Dutchman by the arm and to 
throw him over the big mountain within your borders. We have given the River 
Scokoojiiadt/kr a hunting-place to our cousins the Delawares, and our brothers the 
Shawanese, and we ourselves hunt there sometimes. We therefore desire you 
will immediately by force remove all those that live on the river of Scokooniady." 
Council of Onondaga to Gov. Thomas, April 9, 1743. 

The Shawanese town alluded to in Mr. Heckewelder's note, may have been the 
"Shawanese Cabins," noted on ScuU's Map, and situate about 8 miles west of 
Kaystown, on the Raystown branch of the Juniata. 

* Ki- gisch-go-tum, green grasshoppers. — Zr. 

t Gi-gi-tschi-mu-is, a summer-duck. — Zr. 

X In an enumeration of Indians residing within the Province, furnished to 
Government by Jonah Davenport and James Letort, traders, in October of 1731, 
Ohesson is mentioned as an Indian town on Choniala, 60 miles from Susquehanna, 
inhabited by 20 families of Shawanese, numbering 00 men, and Kitisikahquilas, 
their chief. 

Conrad Weisser writes from Anghwick, Sept. 3, 1754, as follows : "I also con- 
doled with the Indians in the name of this Government over the death of the 
Shawanese chief, wlio died at Capt. McKee's in Paxton, last month. His name 
was Kissakoockqiiilla. 

§ Gisch-gu, day. Gisch-que, to-day. Gi-scha-pan, it is day-break. Ma-ni-loon, 
to make. — Zr. "On Conemaugh Creek there are three Shawanese towns, 45 
families, 200 men, and Okowela their chief." Report of Jonah. Duvcntiort and 
4 



26 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 

Probably the word of^ command given by a warrior to liis com- 
rades at niglit, to break up camp and resume the journey or war- 
path.) 

KiTTANNiNG,* (the County-seat of Armstrong), corrupted from 
Kit-hanne, in ]\Iinsi Delaware, Gicht-hdnne, signifying, the main 
stream, i. e., in its region of country. 

Lackamissa, (corrupted from Legau-mihsa,'\ signifying, sandy 
soil. 

Lackawannock, (emptying into the Susquehanna from the 
North-east in Luzerne County,) corrupted from Lccha.uwuli-lian- 
nek^X or Lechau-hdnnck, signifying, the forks of a stream. 

Lackawaxen, (a branch of the Delaware in Wayne and Pike 
Counties), corrupted from Lcchamvisink, signifying, ivhere the roads 
part — at the forks of the road.§ 

Lehigh IIiver, called by the Delawares Lechauweehi, Lechau- 
loicchinh, or Lechauwekink,\\ signif) ing, where there are forks. This 



James ietorf, Oc<. 29, 1731. ''Aug. 25, 1748, Crossed Kiskeininetas Creek, and 
came to Oliio, that day traveling 26 miles." — Weisscr's Journal to Logs^toum. 

* On the alluvial flat on the left bank of the Allegheny, where Kittanning was 
laid out in 1804, there stood in Colonial times an Indian village of the same name, 
and through it passed a great trail called the " Kittaning Path," by which the In. 
dians of the West communicated with those of the Susquehanna country. Scull's 
Map calls it "the Ohio Path." In August of 175(3, Col. Joiin Armstrong fitted 
out an expedition at Fort Shirley, and attacked and burned the 30 houses which 
composed the Indian town of KiU.-^ing "on Ohio," then the head-quarters of the 
Delaware war-chief, Capt. Jacobs. 

f Le-kau, sand. — Zr. 

X L' chau-imnne, the fork of a river or stream. — Zr. 

^ The head-line of the so-called " walking purchase," run by Surveyor General 
Eastburn at right angles to the line of the walk, extended from the "five chest- 
nut-oaks cut with the Proprietaries' initials and the year 1737, at the end of the 
day's and a half walk through a mountainous barren country abounding in pines" 
to a tree near the mouth of the Lackawaxen, on Delaware, marked with the letter P. 

II Le-chnu-woak, a fork. L'chau-wa-cjuof, a sapling with a fork. L' chau-wie-chen, 
the fork of a road. L' chau-hanne-wall, the forks of streams. Lal-chauwu lin- 
scha-ja, the forks of the fingers. Lal-chau uch-si-taja, the forks of the toes. — Zr. 
The Lehigh Kiver is noticed in records of the Province as early as 1701. On the 
2lHt of March of that year, the Proprietary and Governor informed the Council 
" that a certain young Swede arriving from Lechaij, brought intelligence that on 
5th day last some young men going out a hunting at that place, heard the frequent 
report of fire-arms, which made them suspect that the Senecas were coming down 
among them." "March 31, 1701. The Proprietary and Governor acquainted the 
Board that despite a law prohibiting all persons to trade with the Indians in this 



MORAVIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 27 

name was given to the River, because tbrougli it struck an"^In- 
dian path or thoroughfare coming from the lower parts of the 
Delaware country, which thoroughfare, on the left bank of the 
River, forked of into various trails, leading North and West. The 
word Lechamoekink, was shortened into Lecha, the name still in 
use amontr the descendants of German settlers, — of which abbre- 
viation Lehigh is a corruption. 

Lechau-hdnne, literally a forked stream, is the word also applied 
by the Delawares to the angle or wedge of land lying between the 
confluence of two streams. The forks, most frequently alluded to 
in early records of Provincial Pennsylvania, are those of the Dela- 
ware and its West Branch or Lehigh — called the Forks of the Dela- 
ware. 

LcchamcUank, the place at or icithin the forks, was the name 
given by the Delawares to the site of Easton, and then to the town. 

Province, but such as dwell and reside therein, and have a license from the Gov- 
ernor, — John Hans Stiehhuan, said to live in Maryland, and to have no such 
license, followed a close trade with tlie Indians of this Province, not only at Con- 
estoga, but had been endeavoring to settle a trade with those at Lechay, or ye 
Forks of Delaware, to the great prejudice of the trade of this Province, for which 
reason the Governor had seized such of his goods as were going to Lechay." To 
John Hans, the Governor thereupon wrote ,as follows: "Thy present manage- 
ment of the Indian trade is directly contrary to our Jaws. I have therefore 
stopped thy goods intended for Lechay, till according to thy frequent engagements 
thou come hither tliyself and give further satisfaction than thou hast yet done, to 
" Thy friend, William Penn." 

"Jt%25, 1701. The Proprietary and Governor ordered that Menangy, Indian 
chief on Schuy\k\\\,Oppemenyhoo/c, Chief on Lechay, and Indian Harry of Cones- 
toga be sent for to consult with about passing a law to prohibit all use of rum to 
the Indians of their nations." 

"Last week thy son, Judge Mompesson, and myself went to Pennsbury to meet 
one hundred Indians, of which nine are kings. Oppewoanumhook (Oppenieny- 
hook?) the chief, with his neighbors, who came hither to congratulate thy son's 
arrival, presentetl nine belts of wampum for a ratification of peace, and had re- 
turns accordingly." 

James Logan to William Penn, Philadelphia, lAth 1 month, 1710. 
Memoirs of the Ilist'l Society of Penn'a, Vol. IX. 
The " Indian Ford," alluded to above, crossed the Lehigh at the head of the 
island opposite the works of the "Bethlehem Iron Company," and was included 
in the purchase of 500 acres made by the Moravians of Abraham Taylor in Feb- 
ruary of 1756. When, in 1745, a road was laid out from the grist-mill at Beth- 
lehem, to the terminus of the King's Road from Philadelphia at Irish's stone 
quarry, the "Indian Ford'' was included in the survey. 



2 8 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 

Licking Creek, (a branch of the Potomac heading in Bedford 
County). In Delaware, Mahonink, signifying, where there is a lick. 

Little Beaver, (a branch of the Ohio in Beaver County). In 
Dehiware, TanJc-amochk-hdnne, i. e., little heaver-stream. 

Little Brier, (in Jetiferson County ?) In Delaware, Tanga- 
icimsch-hdnne i. e., little brier stream. 

Little Conemaugii, (a branch of the Conemaugh or Kiskimi- 
netas in Cambria County). The Delawares called it Gunamochki* 
the little otter. 

Little Moshannon, (a branch of the Moshannon in Centre 
County). In Delaware Tankimoos-hdnne, i. e., little elk stream. 

Little Schuylkill, Beaver, or Tamaque Creek, (a branch of 
the Schuylkill in Schuylkill County). In Delaware, tamaque- 
hdnne, i. e., beaver stream, — a stream across which the beaver 
throws a dam and builds his lodge. 

LoYALHANNA,t (a branch of the Conemaugh or Kiskiminetas 
in Westmoreland County), corrupted from Laweel-hdnne, signify- 
ing, the middle stream. 

LoYALSOCK,i (a branch of the Susquehanna in Lycoming Coun- 
ty), corrupted from Lawi-saquick, signifying the middle creek, i. e., 
a creek flowing between two others. I 

Lycoming,§ (a branch of the Susquehanna in Lycoming Coun- 
ty), corrupted from Legaui-hdnne, signifying sandy stream. The 
Delawares called it invariably by this name. 

Macungy, (a township in Lehigh County) corrupted from 
3Iachk-unschi,\\ signifying, the feeding place of bears. 

* Gun-na-moochk, an otter,— ^r. Compounded of gu-nc-u long and a-moochk a 
beaver. 

t Le la-ici, the middle. Lawilo-ivan, mid-winter. La-wit-pi-cat, mid-night. 
La-wu-linsch-fjan, the middle finger. La wu-linsch, the middle or palm of the 
hand. — Zr. 

X Count Zinzendorf was at the Indian town of O^s-^o/i-wa-^m, at the mouth of 
the Loyalsock, in October of 1742,, said town at that time being tlie residence of 
Madame Montour. (See Memorials of the Moravian Church, Vol. 1, p. SO, for 
tlie Count's narrative.) 

I Written Lycaumick on Scull's Map. French MarrjareVs Tumi, stood on tlio 
rigiit bank of the creek, near its outlet. 

II Machk, a bear. Mach-qui-gc-u, plenty of beaivs. Mac.h-quik, there are bears 
plenty. — Zr. Tiie region of country drained by the Little Lehigh and its tributa- 
ries (since 1812 in Lehigh County) embracing the townships of Upper and Lower 
Macungy and Salsburg, was called Macatmsie and Macquenusie prior to 1735, and 



MORAVIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 29 

Meech-hanxBjII (signifying, the main stream ; a name applied 
to the largest of several affluent streams, prior to their confluence. 
This was the name given by the Delawares to the main brancli of 
tlie Lehigh, (between Luzerne and Monroe), it being larger than 
either the Toby-hanna, or the Tunk-hanna, its other sources. 

Mecheek-Menatey,* i. e., the Great Island, the name in use 
among the Delawares. 

MAHANOYjf (a brancli of the Susquehanna in Northumberland 
County), corrupted from malioni, a liclc. 

MahantangOjJ (a branch of the Susquehanna between Dau- 
phin and Northumberland Counties), corrupted from Moliantango, 
signifying, where we had plenty of meat to eat. 

Mahoning,§ (a branch of the Lehigh, heading west in Carbon 
County), corrupted from Mahoninh, signifying, lohei'e there is a 
lick, at the lick. Mahoni is Delaware for a lick, mahonitty signi- 
lies, a diminutive lick, and mahon-hdnne, a stream floioing from or 
near a lick. 

was already then in part well settled by German immigrants. In March of that 
year, "sundry of the inhabitants of Bucks living near and at Macaunsie, in a pe- 
tition to Gov. Gordon, set forth the great necessity of a public road from their 
settlements to Goshen-hoppen," a return of which road was made in January of 
1736. The Moravians labored in the Gospel among the Germans of Macungy as 
early as 1742, in July of which year Gottlieb Pezold, of Bethlehem, occupied that 
field. It was one of the few outside of their own settlements in which they effected 
a permanent footing. In 1747 they organized a congregation among the settlers 
near the South INIountain, five miles South-west from Allentown, and also estab- 
lished a school, which was in operation until 1754. About this time Salsburg 
township was erected. In 1761 the Moravian village within its bounds was named 
Emmaus, now a station on the East Penn E. R. 

II Me- cheek and Mach-we-u, great, large. Mecch-gi-liik, the large one. Meech- 
han-ne, a large stream. — Zr. 

* Me-na-teij, and Mc-na-teu, an island. — Zr. This island lies in the West 
Branch of the Susquehanna, in that long stretch of the river, called Quenischa- 
schuchki, not far from Dunnstown, Lycoming County. It was a favorite resort of 
the Indians and lay on one of the great thoroughfares of tlie Delaware Country. 

f Zinzendorf, on his way to Shamokin in Sept. of 1742, named the Mahanoy 
Lcimbach's Creek, for Henry Leimbach, of Gley, one of his fellow-travelers. 

X Tlie Count on the same journey named the Mahantango, JSenigmi's Creek, 
in honor of his daughter. 

§ Conn)ounded of Malioni, a lick, and ink or iiig, the local sullix. This name 
was a very common one for rivers and places in the Delaware country, along 
which or where the surface of the ground was covered with saline deposit or efflor- 
escence, provincially called "licks" from the fact of deer and elk frequenting them 
and lickincj the saltish earth. 



30 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 

Makerisk-kitton.* This name, written also IlaJceusk-kltton, 
Makerish-hichon and Ilakeerick-Mtton in early Indian deeds, de- 
notes, I am inclined to believe, a spot either on the bank, or in the 
bed of the Delaware ; — which conjecture I base on the termination 
kitton, evidently intended for kit-hdnne or gicht-lumne, signifying 
the main stream. 

Manahan, (a branch of the Yellow Breeches in York County), 
corrupted from menehund,'\ signifying wJiere liquor had been drunk. 

]\Ianaltin, corrupted from mcncdtink, signifying, where ice 
drank liquor to excess. 

ManatawnYjI (a branch of the Schuylkill in Berks County), 
corrupted from menhdltaninh, signifying, where ice drank liquor. 

Manayunk,§ corrupted from mene-iunk, signifying, where we 
go to drink — our j^lace of drinking liquor. 

* The name occurs in the deed executed by the Indians to Wm. Markham, 
(Penn's deputy,) on the 15th July, 1782, (the oldest Indian deed on record), in 
wliicli indenture the tract of land conveyed to the Proprietor is described as "ly- 
ing in the Province of Pennsylvania, beginning at a certain white oak on the 
land now in the tenure of John Wood, and by hiui called the Gray Stones over 
against the falls of Delaware Eiver, and so from thence up by the River's side to 
a corner marked spruce-tree with the letter P, at the foot of a mountain, and from 
the said corner marked spruce-tree along by the ledge or foot of the mountains, 
west north-west to a corner white-oak^marked with the letter P, standing by the 
Indian path that leads to an Indian town called Playwiekey, and near the head of 
a creek called Towsissinock, and from thence westward to the Creek called iVes/ia- 
momys Creek, and along by the said Neahainonijs Creek unto the river Delaware, 
alias, Makerisk-hickon, and so bounded by the said main river, to the said first- 
mentioned white-oak in John Wood's land." This purchase situate within the 
great bend of the Delaware, and between the falls opposite Trenton and the Ne- 
shaminy, was made by Markham for Penn's private use, and became the seat of 
the Manor of Pennsbury. 

The curious instrument from which the above recital of boundaries was taken is 
in the possession of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 

-j- ^/c-?jec'-<ow, to spend in drinking. Mc-ncel, dr'w'k. Mcc-mct, a.i]ruukiux\. Mc- 
nc-woa-can, drinking. — Zr. 

X Manatawny is mentioned in official lecords as early as July of 1707. In 
Afay of 1728 it was the scene of a collision between the settlers and some Shawa- 
nese who bad come down from Pechoqucalin armed, and with a Spanish Indian, as 
it was thought, tor their Captain. Many of the back inhabitants in consequence 
quitted their houses, being under apprehension of numbers of foreign Indians, 
Twightwees or Flatheads, coming to attack them, and several Palatine families 
gathered together in a mill near New Hanover, there to defend themselves. 

2 Occurs in the deed cited under Chester Eiver, in this register. 



MORAVIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 31 

Masgeek-hanne,* sioamp-stream, the name given by the Del- 
awares to a run flowing through the swamp of the Broad Moun- 
tain in Monroe County. 

Mauch Chunk, corrupted from machh-tschunh,-\ signifying 
bear-mountain, or strictly, where there is a mountain, the resort of 
bears. 

MaxatawnYjI (a branch of Saucon Creek in Berks County), 
corrupted from machksit-hdnne, signifying beai-'s path stream, — the 
stream along which bears have beaten a path. 

Meniologameka,§ the name of an Indian village on the Ach- 
quoanschicola, at the northern base of the Blue Mountain, near 
Smith's Gap. 

Meshoppen, (emptying into the Susquehanna from the North 
in Wyoming County), corrupted from masdKlpi,]] signifying, glass- 
beads, a name given by the Indians to commemorate a distribution 
of Such trinkets, made somewhere on the bank of the stream. 

Minisink, corrupted fvom \Mins-ink or Minissinh, signifying, 
where there are Minsies, i. e., the home or country of the Minsies.^ 

* Mas-keck, a swamp. Max-kr-kinik, in tlie swamp.— Zr. 

f Machk, a bear. Wach-tsrlnt, a mountain. WachtuchuwaU, mountains. Woch- 
tschunk, on tlie mountain. — Zr. 

X Alfio the name of a township in Berks, in wliich, at the house of Jacob De Le- 
van, a French Huguenot, Zin/.eiulorf preached in 1742. Scull's Map notes Dele- 
van on the road from Easton to Reading, about six miles West of Merlztown. 

§ See Memorials of the Moravian Church, Vol. 1, p. 35. Heckewelder in his 
Narrative states that the word implies a rich sjwt of ground surrounded by barren 
lands. 

II Ma-scha-pi, corals, beads. Woop-a-sch.api-aU, white beads. — Zr. 

T[ Early records assign this division of the Lenape, to tlie North-eastern wilds 
of the Province, within tlie country which is called on old maps "the land abound- 
ing in the sugar tree." The upper valley of the Delaware, however, was pre-emi- 
nently the home of the Minsies, (the historic Minsinks,) where they built their 
towns, planted their corn and kindled their council fires, and whence tliey set 
out on the hunt or on the war-path. The Minsies, Monscys, or Muncys, were the 
most warlike of their people, and proverbially impatient of the wliite man's pres- 
ence in the Indian country. The murder of one Wright at .John Ihirt's liouse in 
Snaketown, in Sept. of 1727, was the act of Minsies, and subjects we are told of 
Kindassowa, who resided " at the Forks of the Susquehanna above Mechayomy." 
The following notice of the physical peculiarities and traits of these moinitaineer.s, 
is copied from a paper, in the hand-writing of Mr. Heckewelder. "According to 
my observation and judgment of Indian tribes, the Minsies have a peculiarity 
which signalises them from other nations or tribes ; and I have seldom failed in 
pointing them out among a crowd, where tliey, Delawares and Mohicans were to- 



32 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 

MoHULBUCTEETAM, HOW Mahoniiig Creek, (a branch of the 
Allcglieny in Armstrong County), corrupted from Mochooljmkiton* 
signifying, where canoes are abandoned, i. e., the head of navigation. 

MoNOCASY, (a branch of the Lehigh in Northampton County), 
corrupted from Mendgassi, or Menahessi, signifying, a stream with 
several large bends. "^ 

Monody, (a branch of the Swatara in Dauphin County), cor- 
rupted from Menatey, signifying, an island. 

MoNONGAHELA, Corrupted from Menaungelulla, a word imply- 
ing high banks or bluffs, breaking off and falling down at places. 

MosELEM, (a branch of Maiden Creek in Berks County), cor- 
rupted from 3Ieschilameek-hdnne,X signifying ti^out stream. 

MosHANNON, (emptying into the Susquehanna from the South- 
west, between Clearfield and Centre Counties), corrupted from 
Mooshdnne, i. e., elk stream. 

MuNCY Creek,§ (an affluent of the Susquehanna in Lycoming 

gether. The principal distinguisLing marks with me, are — robust or strong-boned, 
broad faces, somewhat surly countenances, greater head of hair and this growing 
low down on their foreheads, short, round-like nose, thick lips seldom closed, or 
rather having their mouths generally somewhat open, which, as I am inclined to 
believe, may be owing in some measure to an awkward custom of this people, who, 
instead of pointing to a thing or object with their hands or fingers, as other In- 
dians do, generally draw out their mouths or lips in the desired direction. They 
are averse to manners, prone to mischief and friends of war. Their natural com- 
plexion is dark, more so than any Indians I have yet seen, but being within these 
twenty last years much mixed by intermarriages with other tribes, their color has 
become lighter or fairer." 

" From the Falls of Delaware River the Indians go in canoes up tlie said river 
to an Indian town called Minisinks, which is accounted from the Falls about 80 
miles; but this they perform by great labor in setting up against the stream. I 
have been informed that about Minisinks by the river-side, both in New Jersey 
and Pennsylvania are great quantities of exceeding rich open land which is occa- 
sioned by washing down of the leaves and soil in great rains from the mountains." 
A True Account of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, by Thomas Eudd, 1685. 

The settlement of '' the Minisinks" by whites from Esopus prior to the purchase 
of the Indian claim, (ostensibly consummated by the "one and a half day's walk," 
in the autumn of 1737) was one of the grievances that alienated the Delawares 
from the Engiisli, and provoked the war of 1755. 

* A-mo-clwol, a canoe. J'a-ki-ton, to throw away. — Zr. 

f Menagachsink, was the name given by the Delawares to the site of Betlilehem 
at the mouth of the Monakasy. 

X Me-schi-la-meek, a trout. 3fa-schi-Ia-mp-qiiaK\ trouts. — Zr. 

I Called Ococlqwclicny^ on Scull's Map. Zinzendorf and his companions were 



MORAVIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 33 

County), corrupted from 3Iins-ink, signifying, where there are Min- 
sies. 

Nescopec, (emptying into the Susquehanna from the East in 
Luzerne County), corrupted from Neskchopj^eek* signifying black, 
deep and still water. 

Neshaminy, (a branch of the Delaware in Bucks County), cor- 
rupted from Nucham-hdnne,^ signifying a double stream, i. e., a 
stream formed by the confluence of two branches. 

Neshannock, (emptying into the Beaver from the North in 
Lawrence County), corrupted from Nishannok, signifying, both 
streams, two adjoining streams. 

Nesquehoning, (emptying into the Lehigh from the West, in 
Carbon County), corrupted from Neska-honi, signifying, a black lick. 

NiPPEXOSE, (draining Nippenose Bottom, and emptying into 
the Susquehanna from the South, in Lycoming County), corrupted 
from Nip)eno-wi,X signifying, like the summer, a name indicating a 
warm and genial situation. 

the first Moravians to cross Muncy Creek. It was in September of 1742. "In 
tlie afternoon of Sunday, Aug. 26, 1753, wc launched our canoe and paddled up 
the river. Four miles above Shamokin we came to Logan's place. The few In- 
dian!) who reside here informed us that he had gone to the Seneca country. In 
one of the cabins there lay a Shawano dying of small-pox. The poor fellow had 
just returned with two Tudelars from an unsuccessful expedition against the Ca- 
tawbas, in which the captain of his company, an Oneida, and four other comrades 
lost their lives. On the 27th we arrived at John Shikellimi/s hunting-lodge [quaere, 
at the mouth of Warrior's Run ?). The Shawanese here gave us a friendly recep- 
tion, supplying us also with bear's meat, in return for which Bro. Grube made the 
children a present of dried apples. After dinner we came to the mouth of 
Muncy Creek, 40 miles above Shamokin. As the Susquehanna was high and the 
current rapid, we left our canoe in care of an Indian acquaintance, shouldered 
our packs, and keeping along the bank of the river, arrived at Otslonwakin in the 
evening. — Journal of Mack and Grube from Bethlehem to Quenischaschachki, 

* Neesk-i-u, black. Tup-peek, a spring, a well. — Zr. 

f Nis-chi, two. Ni-schi-nach-ke, twenty. Ni-sche-cat, double. — Zr. The name 
occurs in the deed of July 1682, cited under Makemk-killon. When in July of 
1742, Zinzendorf inaugurated a work of home-missions in the rural districts of the 
Province, he sent John Okely, of Bethlehem, to preach to the English settlers on 
the Neshaminy. His appointments were probably at Ilartsville, a small village 
on the Willow Grove Turnpike, about six miles south from Doylestown, not far 
from the Neshaminy Church and the " Log College," both of which were in charge 
of the Rev. William Tennent. 

J Ni-ptn, summer. Ni-pin-kc, in the summer. JVi pe-na-cheen, the summer- 
hunt.— Zr. 

5 



34 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 

NoCKAMixoN, (a township in Bucks, bordering on the Dela- 
ware), corrupted from Nochanichsink* signifying, iche7'e there are 
three houses. 

NoLAMATTiNK,! signifying, where the silkworm spins, — the silk- 
worm lands, — was the name given by the Delawares to that part of 
the "Nazareth tract," on which Gnadenthal and Christian's Spring 
lay, — and which abounded in the mulberry. 

Ohio. [Note. Having always failed to satisfy myself that this 
name was an Indian word, (excepting perhaps as an abbreviation), 
I will proceed to state my views on its probable origin, based upon 
observation and hearsay, during my residence among the Indians 
of the Ohio country. There were persons who would liave had 
me believe that Ohio signified ^' the beautiful river,^' and others, 
" the river red with blood," or "the bloody river." This diversity 
of interpretation exciting my curiosity, I took special care to ar- 
rive at a true solution of the problem, by all the means at hand, — 
by questioning intelligent Indians, and by giving close attention 
to their conversation, whenever its subject was this river, or any 
event that had occurred along its coarse. That an Indian word of 
but four letters should be so comprehensive as to express the com- 
plex idea beautiful river, or bloody river, I could never concede. 
Could it even have embraced so much, I was totally at a loss to 
which of the Indian languages to assign it. The latter designation, 
furthermore, I knew to be a figurative one, and suggestive of the 
bloody wars that had been conducted from time immemorial within 
the country washed by the Ohio and its tributaries. 

Only when conversing with traders, or white travelers, to whom 
the word was familiar, would the Indians, in naming the river in 
question, call it the Ohio; invariably, however, emphasizing the 
antepenult, viz : 0-hi-o, and not the penult, as we do. This circum- 
stance satisfied me that the word was not in the vocabulary of the 
Lennape or Delawares. Among themselves, the Indians always 
called the river Kit-hdnne (in Minsi Delaware, Gicht-hdnne) which 

* Na-chcij three. Wik^ a house. Na che-nach-ke, thirty. Zr, 
•}■ Ne-le-ma-tecs, the silk-worm. — Zr. In June of 175'2, Philip C. Bader, who 
was conducting tlie culture of the silk-worui at Betlileliein, transferred his cocoon- 
ery to Cliristian's Spring, wliere mention is made of it as late as 1755. Quaere. Did 
tlie Delawares name the place from this circumstance? 



MORAVIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 



35 



signifies the main strecnii, i. e., in its region of country ;* — ;i name 
which is perpetuated in Kittanning (once the site of an Indian 
town on the Allegheny,) corrupted from Kit-hannink, signifying 
at or 071 the main stream, i.e., the forvn at or an the main stream of 
its region of country. Thus much for the name of the river in 
question current among the Delawares, — which name 1 hold to be 
the national or historical one. Next, as to the origin of the name 
Ohio current with us. In tracing this it will be necessary for me 
to adduce a series of words from the Delaware, all of which have 
a bearing on the question nnder consideration. I borrow both 
from the Unami and 3Iinsi dialects. 



Unami. 

Ohtii, very ; when prefixed, writ- 
ten Ohi. 

Open, opsit, white. 

Optechen, it looks white. 

Ohiopiechen, it is of a whitish 
color. 

Opelechen, white, bright. 

Opeek, white with froth. 

Ohiopeek, very white with froth, 
or white-caps. 

Ohiophdnne, a very white stream, 

Ohiopeelchdnne, a very deep and 
white stream, whitened all over 
with white-caps. 



3Iinsi. 



Achwi, very. 



Wapeu, wapsit, white. 
Wap'iechen, it looks white. 
Waheicapiechen, it is of a whitif^h 

color. 
WoapeU'chen, white, bright. 
Wapeek, white with froth. 
Achciwdpeck, very white with 

froth, or white-cai)s. 
Achwiivoapjhdime, a very white 

stream. 
Achtciivapcekhdnnc, a very deep 

and white stream, whitened 

all over with white-caps. 

These words, in connection with what I shall proceed to relate, 
will, I think, be sufficient to convince the reader of the plausibility 
if not of the correctness of nay theory, that the name Ohio is only 
the fragment of an Indian word or words, which in their entirety 
were used by the Delawares, to describe a certain condition of the 
main river (kit-hanne) of their Avestern country,— but not as its name. 
The Ohio being often wide, deep and with no perceptible current 
in its course for miles, the slightest wind that blows up stream, in- 
variably covers its surface with what are provincially called ivhite- 
caps, I have seen the river, when under the influence of a westerly 
or south-westerly wind, (the prevailing winds of the country) in 



See Kittanning^ in this register. 



36 TRANSACTIONS OP THE 

this cotulition for several clays in succession, so that my Indian 
companions and myself would be obliged to haul our canoes on 
shore, well knowing that navigation on the river, when covered 
with white-caps, was perilous. On such occasions the Indians 
never failed to apply one or another of the above quoted words to 
the condition of the river — ejaculating "jwA Ohiopiechen f' " Lo ! 
it is of a whitish color!" or, " OhiopeekP^ "it is very white!" or 
" Ohlophanne /" " the stream is very white !" and at points where 
they supposed the river to be very deep, they would exclaim 
" Kitschi Ohiopeekhanne !'' i. e., "verily this is a deep and white 
stream !" 

Thus much for the derivation of Ohio. Its fragmentary form 
is easily accounted for. We owe it to the traders and settlers along 
the frontiers. The former penetrated the Indian country solely for 
gain ; the latter were generally an illiterate class, and both were 
satisfied in communicating with the natives, by words (however 
incorrectly or carelessly spoken) which sufficed to render themselves 
intelligible. Whenever possible, they would abbreviate Indian 
words, or adapt them to their powers of enunciation. To sucii a 
degree was this corruption of language practised, that the Indians 
would even indulge in incessant laughter at the quaintness and 
impropriety of speech made use of by their white visitors. 

On their return to the settlements, the traders would report 
where they had been, and thus ingraft their names of streams and 
places upon the vocabulary of the whites. In this way, I presume 
to account for the origin of the name Ohio. 

Ohiopile, (the falls or rapids of the Youghiogheny in Fayette 
County), corrupted froiu Ohiopehelle, signifying, icater whitened by 
froth by its rapid descent over rocks and stones. 

Oley, (a township in Berks County), corrupted from Olink, or 
Olo (also Wahllnk, or Wahlo* signifying a hole, a cavern, a cell, or 
"cache;" also a cove, that is, a tract of land encompassed by hills. 

OswAYA, (a tributary of the Allegheny in Potter County), cor- 
rupted from Utscheja,'\ signifying, the place of fiies. 

Paint Creek, (a branch of the Conemaugh or Kiskiminetas, 

* Woa-lac, a hole. Wal-he-u, he is digging a hole. — Zr. 

Oley was one of the first fields of Moravian religious activity in the Province of 
Pennsylvania. 

f Ui-schi a fly, ut-scKe-wak, flies. — Zr. 



MORAVIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 37 

in Cambria County), called by the Delawares Wallamink, signify- 
ing ivhere there is paint. 

Paxton, (emptying into the Susquehanna from the East, at 
Harrisburg), corrupted from Peekstank* signifying, where the 
waters stand — the place of dead water, whether in a stream, or 
pool, or lake. 

P£NNYPACK,t (emptying into the Delaware in Philadelphia 
County), corrupted from Femdpeek, signifying, a body of water with 
no current, Avhether a stream, a pool, or lake. 

Pequea,! (emptying into the Susquehanna in Lancaster County), 
corrupted from Picueu, a Shawano word. 

* Tup-peek, a spring, a well, standing water. Ilanne, a stream. Onk, ank, ink, 
nk, and *, local sufEies. — Zr. The name is written also Peshtang and Pestank in 
early official papers. "July 25, 1709, the chiefs of several nations living en the 
Susquehanna at Peshtang, above Conestoga, met Gov. Gookin in council at Phila- 
delphia." In 1726 John Harris, a Yorkshireman, settled at the mouth of Pax- 
ton Creek, traded largely with the Indians by whom he was surrounded, cleared 
a farm, and kept a ferry. " Harris' Ferry over the Susquehanna," became an 
important outpost in the Province. John Harris, Jr., born on the Paxton in 
1726, inherited from hia father 700 acres of land, on a part of which Harrisburg 
was laid out in 1785. Paxton Township was erected in what was then Lancaster 
County, in 1729. Its firpt settlers were Scotch immigrants from the north of Ire- 
land (Scotch-Irish), who, in order to protect their frontier-places against the In- 
dians, on the opening of hostilities, organized a company of rangers. To these 
belonged the " Paxton Boys" who exterminated the last of the Conestogas on their 
hereditary seats in Manor Township, Lancaster County, in December of 1763. 

t In a letter to James Logan, written at Pennsbury House, the 22d day of 6th 
month, 1700, Penn directs him in these words, " Urge the Justices about the 
bridge at Pemepecka and Poquessin forthwith for a carriage, or I cannot come to 
town." — Memoirs of the Historical Society of Penn'a., Vol. IX. 

The name of this stream occurs for the first time in deeds, in one executed by 
four Indian Shakamakers on the 14th day of the 5th month, 1683, to Wra. Penn, 
for "lands lying between Manaiunk, alias Schuylkill, and Pemmapeka Creek." 

X Written in early records Peguehan, and Peckquea, was already before 1707 a 
settlement of Shawanese {Southerners or South-men ; Scha-iva-ne-u, south, Sha-iva- 
ne-munk, southward, Sha-ica-noch-que a Shawano woman. — Zr.,) at the mouth of 
the Creek of that name, and the residence of Martin Chartiere, a well-known tra- 
der and interpreter, but "late French glover of Philadelphia." When Gov. 
Evans, in June of 1707, visited the Indians on the Susquehanna, he was conducted 
to Pequea by Opessah, the Shawano Chief, and on his entrance into the town salu- 
ted by a volley of small arms. Swiss immigrants settled a tract of 10,000 acres on 
the North side of Pequea Creek in 1710. In order to secure the good will of the 
neighboring Indians for these .strangers. Gov. Gookin met them in conference at 
Conestoga in June of 1711, and addressed them through Indian Harry, as follows : 



38 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 

Perkiomen, a branch of the Schuylkill in Montgomery Connty), 
corrupted from Pakihmornlnk* Pakiomink, signifying, where there 
are cranberries, the place of cranberries. Pakihm, in Delaware, a 
cranhen-y. 

Pine Creek, (a branch of the Susquehanna between Lycoming 
and Clinton Counties.) In Delaware Cuivenhdnne, i. e., pine stream 
— a stream flowing through pine lands. 

Pittsburg. The Delawares called the site of this city, after its 
occupation by the French, Menachk-sink, which signifies, ichere 
there is a fence, or an enclosure. Menachk.,^ is an enclosed spot of 
ground, a place secure against entrance, hence equivalent to a for- 
tification. 

PlayavickYjI corrupted frcm Placmvikichtit, signifying, the 
home or habitation of Indians of the Turkey tribe. 

Plum Creek, (the North branch of Crooked Creek in Arm- 
strong County.) In Delaware, Sipuas-hdnne, i. e., plum stream. 
Sipudssink, signifies, where there are plums.% 

PocONO, (emptying into McMichael's Creek in Monroe County), 
corrupted from Poco-hdnne signifying, a. stream between mountains. \\ 
Broad Mountain received the name Pocono, from this creek. 

PoHOPOCO, or Big Creek, (emptying into the Lehigh from the 
North-east, in Carbon County), corrupted from Pochkapochka, sig- 

"Gov. Penn on all occasions being willing to show how great a regard he bears to 
you has sent this email present (50 lbs. of powder, 1 piece of Stroudwaters, 1 piece 
of dnflels and 100 lbs. of shot) to yon, and hath required me to acquaint you that 
he is about to settle some people upon the branches of Potowniack, nnd doubts not 
but that the same mutual friendship which has all along as brotliers passed be- 
tween the inhabitants of this government and you, will also contimie betwixt you 
and those he is about to settle. Furthermore he intends to present five belts of 
wampum to the Five Nations, and one to you of Conestoga, and requires your 
friendship to the ralatincs settled near Fequea." 

* Occurs the first time in a deed executed by Manghotighai), at Philadelphia, 
the 3d day of 4th month, 1684, in which he makes over all his land on Pahikiho- 
mn to William Penn, "in consideration of two matchcoats, four pair of stockings, 
and four bottles of cydar." 

•}• Mee-nachk, a fence, a fort. Menach-gink, in the fence. Me-nach-gak, a fence- 
rail. — Zr. I 

X Occurs in the deed of July, 1684, cited under Makerishkitton. Fla-e-u, a tur- 
key. Wikj a house. 

^ Si-pu-o-man-di-canj wild plums. — Zr. 

II rock-a-wach-ne^ a creek between two hills. — Zr. 



MORAVIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 30 

nifyiDg, two mountains hearing down \ipon each other with a stream 
intervening, — as is the case at the Water-gap."^ 

PoKETO, (emptying into the Allegheny from the South, in Al- 
legheny County,) corrupted from pach gita,'\ signifying, throic it 
away, abandon it. 

PoPONOMiNG, (a pond, or small lake in Hamilton township, 
Monroe County), corrupted from Papenndmink, signifying, where 
we are gazing. 

PoQUESSiNG, (emptying into the Delaware between Philadelphia 
and Bucks Counties), corrupted from Poquesink, signifying, where 
thfre are mice, — the place of mice.J 

Pymatuning, (a branch of the Chenango in Mercer County), 
corrupted from Pihmtomink,^ signifying where the man with the 
crooked mouth resides, — the home of the man with the crooked 
mouth. [Note. I was acquainted with the person to whose de- 
formity there is allusion in the name of the creek.) 

QuAKAKE, (emptying into the Lehigh from the West, in Car- 
bon County), corrupted from Cuwenkeek,\\ signifying pine lands. 
Ciiwen-hunne signifies, pine- land stream, i. e., a stream flowing 
through pine-lands. 

QuEMAHONiNG, (a branch of the Conemaugh or Kiskiminetas, 
heading in Somerset County), corrupted from Cuwei-mahoni, sig- 
nify ing pine-tree lick, i. e., a lick in among pines. 

QuENisciiASCHACKi.^ This name was given by the Delawares 

* It is inferable from remarks recurring in diaries kept by tlie Bretliren, tliat 
tlie name Pokopoco or Bach-ka-buch-ka (rock aside of rock, from gaii-scha-puchk, a 
rock, in composition abbreviated into puchk) was applied to the region of the Le- 
high Water Gap^ running back east of the river, and north of the mountain. Jlencc it 
was applied to the main stream of that region, now called Big Creek. 

f Fa-ki-ton, to abandon. — Zr. 

I Ach-po-quees, a mouse. — Zr. Tiiis name occurs in the Record of Upland 
Court, in a minute of Oct. 8, 1678, recording the survey of a tract of 417 acres of 
land, situate at the mouth of Pont Qnesink Creek, to James Sandelands and Lassie 
Cock. Also in a release executed by King Tamunend, i. e., " the afiable," and tiiree 
other kings, June 15, 1G92, at Philadelphia, in which they release to Wm. Penn and 
his heirs, any further claims on their part to a tract of land situate between Nesha- 
minah and Foquessing upon the River Delaware, claimed by them from the beginning 
of the world until the aforesaid day. 

§ Pim-e-u, slanting. Pi-Jtioch-que-ii, twisted. W'doon^ the mouth. — Zr. 

II Cu-we-u-chae, pine wood. — Zr. 

^ Quin, long, (jue-nek, length. Schaschack-ki, straight.—^'-. The Delawarea 



40 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 

to the long reach in the West Branch of the Susquehanna in Ly- 
coming County. Hence, they called the West Branch Quenisch- 
dchachgek-hdnne, which word has been corrupted into Susquehanna. 

QuiLUTAMEND, signifying, toe came unawares upon them, is the 
name given by the Delawares to a spot, a short distance above the 
mouth of the Lackawannock in Luzerne County, situate between a 
steep mountain and the Susquehanna, where, they told me, their 
people had surprised and captured a body of Five Nation Indians 
i^Mengwe) in their early wars with that confederacy. 

QuiTOPAHiLLA, (a branch of the Great Svvatara in Lebanon 
County), corrupted from Cuitpehelle, or Cuwitpehelle , signifying, a 
spring that fiows fi'om the ground among pines. 

Raccoon Creek, (emptying into the Ohio from the South in 
Beaver County). In Delaware, Nachenum-hanne* i. e., raccoon 
stream. 

Redstone Creek, (a branch of the Monongahela in Fayette 
County). In Delaware, Ilachkachsen-hdnne, i. e., redstone stream.f 
Ilachkachsinnink, signifies, where there are red stones. 

Salt Lick, (a branch of the Youghiogheny in Fayette County.) 
In Delaware Sikhewi-mahoni.X Sikei-hdnne signifies a stream flow- 
ing from a salt lick. 

Sandy Lick, (emptying into the Allegheny from the West, in 
Venango County.) In Delaware, Legauwi-mahoni. 

Sankinack,§ corrupted from Sank-hdnne, signify ing,^m^ stream, 
i. e., a stream in or along which flint abounds. 

Saucon, (emptying into the Lehigh from the South-west, in 

had a town of this name on the long reach of the river, said to have stood on the 
site of Linden, 6 miles east from Jersey Shore. It was repeatedly visited by mis- 
sionaries from Bethlehem, prior to 1754. Scull's Map notes it. 

* Na ckenum, a raccoon. Na-ehe-num-mook, raccoons. — Zr. 

I Machk-e-u, red. Mach-xiim-men to dye red — machk-te-u^ morning-red — much' 
gen-ach-gook, the copper snake. Ach-sin, a stone. — Zr. 

X Sikei/, Salt.— Zr. 

'i Probably the Delaware name of Tar Run, a small stream that empties into 
the Lehigh from the West below Weissport, in Carbon County, as may be inferred 
from the following extract of a letter written from Bethlehem to Count Zinzendorf 
in .June of 1747. " As to the improvements at Gnadenhiitten — besides completing 
the mill-dam and race on the Mahoning, the brethren have thrown a foot-bridge 
120 feet long across the Sankinac, two miles below Gnadenhiitten. By this means 
we can communicate with the Mission even in times of freshets, when the Creek 
runs wild down the gorge and its passage by raft or canoe is extremely perilous." 



/ 

MORAVIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 41 

Northampton Count}), corrupted from Sakunk* signifying, ichere 
a smaller stream empties into a larger, hence, its place of outlet. 
[Note. The outlet of the Big Beaver into the Ohio, a point well 
known to all Indians, — to warriors of dijfferent and of the most 
distant tribes, as well as of those of the vicinity, — their rendezvous 
in the French wars, — their thoroughfare and place of transit — a 
point of observation, and the scene of frequent contest and blood- 
shed, was the best known of the many Sakunls-f in the Indian 
country.) 

Schuylkill. The Delawares called the river Ganshotve- 
hdnne,X i. e., the roaring stream, — the stream that is noisy in its 
course over rocks and stones. 

Serechen, corrupted from Selehend, or Sinuehund, signifying, 
where milking is done, — the place of milking. 

* Sa-ku-wit, the month of a creek or river. — Zr. 

t Conrad Weisser in his Journal to the Ohio mentions Sakunk nnder the name 
of Beaver Creek. " Angnst 23, 1748," he writes, "I went to an Indian town about 
eight miles beloic Loystown^ (chiefly Delawares, the rest Mohawks) to have some 
belts of wampum made." Barbara Lingaree and Mary Roy, who were taken 
prisoners on John Fenn's Creek in Snyder Connty, in October of 1755, by French 
Indians, state, in a deposition made on their release from captivity, that they had 
first been carried to Kittanning, thence were removed to Fort Duquesne, thence to 
Sakunk, twenty miles below at the mouth of the Big Beaver, — and in the spring of 
1757, to Kaskaskie, up Beaver Creek Iwentg-Jive miles.'' Post, in his Journal to the 
Ohio records his experience at Sakmik, in these words: "Aug. 20, 1758, we set 
out from Kaskaskie for Sakunk. My company consisted of twenty-five horsemen 
and fifteen footmen, and arrived there in the afternoon. The people of this town 
were very dissatisfied at my coming, and received me in a rough manner. They 
surrounded me with drawn knives in their hands, so that I could hardly get 
along, running up against me with their bare breasts, as if they wanted some pre- 
tence to kill me. I coidd read a desire of my life in their countenances, — their 
faces were quite distorted with rage, and tliey went so far as to say that I should 
not live long." 

Evans' Map locates Skingan' Town at the outlet of the Big Beaver. 

+ Gan-ache-we-ii^ it roars. Gans-ehi-hit-ta-qnol, it makes a terrible noise. 
C'aii-schi-hi-ia-xen, a roaring noise. — Zr. In old deeds the Schuylkill was called 
Manaiunk. Gerrit van Sweeringen, in his ".Account of the .settling of the Dutch 
and Swedes at the Delaware," assigns a reason for the name Schuylkill, by stating 
"that the Swedes' ship sailed up as high as Tinicum, hiding themselves in a 
creeke, which is called to this day the Schuyl-kiil, from nchin/len to hide, that is, 
in English the Hiding Creek." — Record of Upland Court. 

Again it is said, that when the Dutch under Capt. Hendricks, sailed up the 
Delaware in IGIG, not knowing whence the river came whose outlet they were 
passing, they named it Schuylkill, i. e., the hidden kill or stream. 

6 



42 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 

Shackamaxox, corrupted from Schachamcsink* signifying, 
ivhei-e there are eels, the place of eels. Schachameek, an eel. 

SHAMOKiNf (Sunbury) written Schahamoki, or Schahamokink by 
the Delaware.?. In early times the place was called Schacha- 
m6kl, the place of eels, and the creek Schachameklian, i. e., eel-stream. 
It was next called Schachhenamendi, signifying, the place tvhere gun 
barrels are straightened, % because it had become the residence of 
an ingenious Delaware, Nutamees^ by name, who undertook to re- 
pair the bent fire-arms of his countrymen. 

Shohola, (emptying into the Delaware from the South-west in 
Pike County) corrupted from Schauwihilla,\\ signifying, weak, faint, 
depressed. 

Shohokin, (emptying into the Delaware from the South-west 
in Wayne County,) corrupted from Schohdcan,^ signifying glue. 
Schohacanink, where there is glue, where glue is made. 

Shummonk,** signifies, %7iere there is a Iio)m,t\\e place of the horn. 

* Scha cha-meek, an eel, compotinded of Scha-chach-gc-u, stniighf, and na-mees 
a fish, — the straight fish. — Zr. Otliers derive the word from /Sa-^i'-^na, a chief, a 
king, with the local suffix ink, giving it the meaning oi the place of chiefs or kings, 
I. e., wliere sachems meet in council. 

f See Memorials of the Moravian Church, Vol. 1, p. 66, for a further notice of 
Shamokin, and of the Moravian Mission at that town Pjrlaens, the Iroquois 
scholar, in a collection of vocables taken from the mouth of the Oneida sachem 
Shikellimy, while on a visit to Bethlehem in April of 1745, gives Ot ze-nach-se, 
as the name of the place, in the Maqua, or language of the Six Nations. — MS. of 
Iroquois vocables in possession of the editor. 

+ Schach-ach-ge-ne-men, to straighten. Scliach-ach-ga -gee-chcn , a straight road. 
Scach ach-ga-me-u, a straight row. 

§ Probably, old JVulimaes, one of the signers of "the release for lands on Dela- 
ware," executed August 25, 1737, which lands were measured ofi'by the one and a 
half day's walk in September following. This same Nutimaes, at the time king of 
Nescopeck, was courteously entertained at Bethlehem in March, 1754, then on 
Ins way wilh his two oldest sons, and negro servants, to the Jerseys. Pontius 
Nutimaes the older son, was born near the site of Philadelphia. Together with 
his brother Isaac, he removed to the Ohio, after the war, and deceased on the 
Muskingum in 1780. Nutimaes, according to Heckewelder, signifies a speare.r of 
fish. Quaere. Were not jierhaps the smithy built at Shamokin by Joseph Powell 
and John Hagen of Bethlehem in July of 1747, and the blacksmiths Schmid, 
Wesa and Kieflfer, who wrought in iron at that place until in October of 1755, — 
snggestive of the name Schach-he-na-men-di? 

II Schau-tce-ivi and Schau-wi-hil-le-u, weak. Shauwus-su, lie is weak. Shau-tri- 
na-xii-woa-gan, weakness.- Zr. 

^ Sco-ha-can and Me-suk-hoa-can, glue. — Zr. 

** W'schum-vio, a horn. We-uch-schum-mu-is, cattle. — Zr. 



MORAVIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 43 

SiNNEMAHONiNG, (emptying into the Susquehanna from the 
North, in Clinton County), corrupted from Achsinni-mahoni,* sig- 
nifying, stony lick. 

Skippack, (a branch of the Perkiomen in Montgomery County), 
corrupted from Schki-peek,'\ signifying, a pool of stagnant, offensive 
tcate)'. 

Slippery Kock, (emptying into the Big Beaver from the North- 
east, in Lawrence County.) In Delaware, Wescliachachdpochka,X 
i. e., a slippery rock. 

Standing Stone, (emptying into the Juniata from the North, 
in Huntingdon County) called by the Delawares Achsinnink, where 
there is a large stone,^ — the place of the large stone. Achsinnessink 
signifies, where there is a small stone, — the place of the small stone. 
{Note. I know of four places within 500 miles called Achsinnink, 
where large stones or rocks stand isolated either on the margin or 
in the bed of streams.)|| 

Stony Creek, (a branch of the Qiipraahoning in Somerset 
County). In Delaware Sivne-hdnne, or Achsin-hdnne, i. e., stony 
stream. 



* Ach-filn, a stone, Ach sun nail, stones. — Zr. 

f Me-nup-peek, a pool or pond. Tup-peek, a spring or well. 

X W'scha-che-Uj slippery. — Zr. , 

g Chot-ach sUn, a large rock. — Zr. 

II The Standing Stone, a landmark for trader and Indian traveling through the 
wilds of Western Pennsylvania in tiie middle of the last century, is first men- 
tioned in records by Weisser in his Journal to Logstown. "Aug. 18, 1748," he 
writes, " had a great rain in the afternoon, and came within two miles of the 
Standing Stone." John Harris, in a "report of distances on the road to Logs- 
town," drawn up in 1754, allows " 24 miles from A ughwick to tlie Standing Stone," 
and observes that " Ihe stone is 14 feet high and 6 inches square.' Scull's map 
locates the pillaF on the right bank of the Achsinnink, near its outlet, where also 
stood tlie Indian village of Standing Stone. When the town of Huntingdon was 
laid out a few years prior to the Revolution, this historic column was still, though 
inutilatedj at its place. Tradition says that it was a memorial stone, and that on 
its preservation depended the existence of the tribe who had set it up. Hence 
wiien a hostile people once came down the Tuscarora valley, and in the absence 
(if the warriors of Standing Stone carried ofl'tlieir pillar, fierce battles ensued, and 
tiiere was no peace until the .sacred palladium had been restored, and again placed 
on the flats of the Achsinnink. Tliree Indian trails diverged from the Standing 
Stone, one leading to A ughwick, one to PVankstown, and the third to the great 
Chinklacamoose Path. 

There is a Standing Stone in the Susquehanna, opposite the village of that 
name, in Bradford County. 



44 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 

Tamaqua. (See Little Schuylkill.) 

Tioga, (one of the tributaries of the Susquehanna, draining Tio- 
ga County), corrupted from Tiaoga, an Iroquois word, signifying 
o gate, a place of erdrance. {Note.) This name was given by the 
Six Nations to the wedge of land lying within the forks of the 
Tioga and North Branch of Susquehanna, — in passing which 
streams, the traveler entered their territory as through a gate. The 
country south of the forks, was Delaware country. David Zeis- 
berger, who traveled that way to Onondaga in 1750, told me that 
at Tiaoga, or the Gate, Six Nation Indians were stationed for the 
})urpose of ascertaining the character of all persons who crossed 
over into their country, and that whoever entered their territory by 
another way than through the Gate, or by way of the Mohawk, 
M-as suspected by them of evil purpose, and treated as a spy or 
enemy.)* 

Tobyhanxa, (emptying into the Lehigh from the North-east in 
Monroe County, corrupted from Topi-hdnne, signifying alder- 
stream, i. e. a stream whose banks are fringed with alders. 

ToHiCKON, (emptying into the Delaware from the West, in 
Bucks County), corrupted from Tohickhan, or TohicMidnne,s\gnii\- 
ing the drift-wood stream, i. e., the stream we cross on drift-wood. f 

Towanda, (emptying into the Susquehanna from the South- 
west in Bradford County), corrupted from Tawundeimk, signifying 



* Bishop Spangenberg, accompanied by David Zeisberger and John Shebosli, 
passed through the Gates of Tioga, on the 12th of June, 1745, on the way to On- 
ondaga. They were the first Moravians to enter the country of the Six Nations 
at this point of ingress. Spangenberg states, tliat they were tliere distant from 
Shamokin, about 180 miles by water, and were come to a Moliican town. 

t Tiiis stream, heading not far below the outliers of the South Mountain or 
" Lechay Hills," (up to which point the Indian clainii? had been extinguished) 
was repeatedly declared by Teedyuscung, the Delaware King, to be the southern 
limit of the white man's country, and he furthermore asserted that all lands lying 
between the Tohickon and Wyoming had been fraudulently taken from him and 
his people, and were in the occupancy of intruders. 

"I desire to see T. Fairman, for that I hear an Indian township called Tohickon, 
rich land, and much cleared by the Indians, he has not surveyed to mine and 
children's tracts, as I expected. It joins ujion the back of my manor of High- 
lands, and I am sorry ray Surveyor-general did not inform me thereof. If it be 
not in thy warrants, put it in, except lands already or formerly taken up, or an 
Indian township. The Indians have been with me about it." Wm. Penn to 
Jamfs Lof/arij Pennsbari/j Qth rhiij^ ~/.h rnonth^ ITfK). Penn and Logan correspon- 
dence. 



MORAVIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 45 

where we bury the dead. [Note.) Here the Nanticokes buried the 
bones of their dead. 

TowsiSSiMOCK,* corrupted from Dawd-simook, signifying, the 
feeding place of cattle, i. e., pasture grounds. 

ToMBicoNjt corrupted from Toinbic-hanne, signifying, crab- 
apple stream. ^ 

TucQUAN, corrupted from F'duc-hanne,^ signifying, a winding 
stream; corrupted from p'ducquan, round, and hanne a stream. 
P'ducachtin signifies a round hill or hnoll. 

TuLPEHOCKEN, (a branch of the Schuylkill in Berks County), 
corrupted from Tulpewi-hacki,^ signifying, the land of turtles. 

TuNKHANNA, (a branch of the Tobyhanna in Monroe County), 



* The name occurs in the deed of Jiil\', 1682, cited under Makfrisk-kitton. 

j Tom-bi-ca-nall, crabs, or wild apples. — Zr. Tombican Creek occurs under the 
head of Berks and Schuylkill in Heckewelder's arrangement. Quaere. — Tumbluuj 
Run, a branch of the Schuylkill at Pottsville? 

X r'tnck-hi-can, a ball. F'tuck-han-tn', a bend in a stream. P'tuck-quin-scliu, a 
round bowl. — Zr. 

I Tul-pe, a water or sea-turtle. Tach-quoch, a land-turtle. ILic-ki, the earth, 
the land. — Zr. During Mr. Heckewelder's stay among the Delawares of the 
Mu.skingum in the summer of 1762, he received the name of Pi-se-la-tul-pe. 
Quaere, compounded of Pise Uis-so, wrinkled, and tul-pe, a turtle? 

In March of 1705 the Conoys requested permission of Geo. Evans to remove 
from their towns on the Susquehanna to Tulpehocken. In July of 1707 the Gov- 
ernor visited the Indian town of Tulpehocken, wliicli tradition locates near the 
Bite of Womelsdorf, in Berks County. 

The lands watered by Tulpehocken Creek and its tributaries, were settled bv 
Germans from Scoharie (without the knowledge of the Proprietaries' agents, and 
l)ef()re (he Indian claim had been bought) in 1723. Among these Palatines were 
tlie Wei,sser'.=. and George Loesch, the ancestor of the Moravian family of Loesch 
or Lash. This unwarrantable occupation much dissatisfied the Indians, and was 
made a matter of complaint by the Delaware chiefs Sassoonan and Opekas.set, at 
a conference with Gov. Gordon, held at Philadelphia in June of 1728. The In- 
dian claim was bought by Thomas Penn .soon after his arrival in the country, in 
17.33. Tulpehocken was one of the rural districts of the Province in which the 
Brethren labored in the Go.spel, with marked success. Zinzendorf preached there 
frequently, and in the spring of 1742, Gottlieb Biitlner of Bethlehem, was on his 
recommendation accepted by the settlers as their minister. They hereupon built 
him a church. Philip Meurer succeeded Biittner in the autumn of the vear, and 
the Brethren were inclined to believe that they had now effected a permanent 
footing; but as a Lutheran church was organized in the neighborhood (this was 
in 1743) they lost influence, were regarded with distrust, and then with displeasure, 
and finally (in January of 1747) deprived of the building in which they worshipped. 
Meurer was accordingly recalled to Bethlehem. 



46 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 

corrupted from Tanh-hanne,* i. e., the small stream. [Note. The 
smallest of two or more confluents or sources of a river is always 
called tank-hanne by the Delawares.) Tunkhannoch is a corruption 
of the same, 

TuppEEKHANNA, (ouc of the sources of the Little Lehigh at 
Trexlertown, in Upper Macungy, Lehigh County). The word 
signifies the stream that flows from a large spring. 

Turtle Creek, (emptying into Ihe Monongahela from the 
East, in Allegheny County). The Delawares called it tulpeici- 
sijrd, i. e,, turtle river. 

Two Licks, (a branch of the Conemaugh in Indiana Count}^). 
In Delaware Nischa-honi, i. e., two licks. 

Venango. The Delawares called French Creek Attike. {Note. 
The name was sometimes written Onenge.) 

Wappasuning, (a branch of the Susquehanna in Bradford 
County), corrupted from Wapachsinnink,'\ signifying, where there 
are white stones, alluding to a deposit of silver ore — the Delaware 
for silver being Woap-dchsin, i. e., the white stone. 

Wapwallopen, or Whopehawly,J (emj)tying into the Susque- 
hanna from the East in Luzerne County), corrupted from Woap- 
halldch-pinli, signifying, where the white hemp grows, i. e., the kind, 
which when dressed, is whitest. 

Waullenpaupack, or Paupack, (a branch of the Lackawaxen, 
dividing Wayne and Pike Counties,) corrupted from Walinkpa- 
peek,^ signifying, deep and dead water. 

Wechquetank, for Wekquitank, the Delaware name of a spe- 
cies of willow, growing in the neighborhood of the Indian town of 
that name, once on Head's Creek, {Hoeth's Creek) in Monroe 
Countv.ll 



■* 2\ing-han-ne-H^ a little .stream, ur run. — Zr. 

f Woap, white. Woap-ach-poan^ white-bread. Woap-i-min schi, the white tree, 
i. e., the cliestnut tree, because white when covered with blossoms. — Zr. 

X This name is invariably written WmnbhaUohank by Moravian Missionaries. 
Gottlieb and Mary, the first converts from the Delawares, who were united with 
the Church by baptism, administered at Bethlehem, in April of 1745, resided on 
the Wapwallopen. 

^ Woa lac, a hole. Me-nii-peek, a pool. — Zr. 

II The seat of a Moravian Mission, between April of 1760, and October of 1763, 
part of the Christian Indians at Bethlehem, last from Gnadenhiitten, having been 
transferred thither, at the first named date. 



MORAVIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETV. 47 

Welagamika,* signifying, rich soil, was the name of a Dela- 
ware town on the " Nazareth tract," when the Moravians came 
there in 1740. The Indians applied the name to the entire tract. 

Wheeling Creek, (heading in Washington County), corrupted 
from Wihling, or inh-linh, signifying, where the head is, or the place 
of the head.-\ [Note. The Indians state that along this creek they 
had decapitated a prisoner, and then impaled his head). 

White Deer, (emptying into the Susquehanna from the West, 
in Union County). In Delaware, Woap'tuchcinne, i. e., white-deer 

sir earn. X 

WiCONiSCO, (emptying into the Susquehanna from the East in 
Dauphin County), corrupted from Wikenkniskeu, signifying, a tvct 
and muddy camp.% {Note. Probably some Indians encamped along 
the creek, where the bank was wet and muddy.) 

WiNGOHOCKiNG, (the South branch of Frankford Creek), cor- 
rupted from Wingehacking,\\ signifying, a favorite spot for j)l anting. 

WissAHiCKON, corrupted from Wisameckhan,^ signifying, cat- 
fish stream. 

WiSSiNOMiNG, (the Tacony, or North branch of Frankford 
Creek), corrupted from Wischdnemunk,'*'* where we were frightened. 

Wolf Creek, (a branch of the Slippery Rock in Mercer Coun- 
ty), called by the Delawares Tummeink, signifying,! f where there u 
a wolf, i. e., the place of wolves. 

Wyalusing, (emptying into the Susquehanna from the North- 
east in Bradford County), corrupted from M chwihilusing ,XX signi- 
fying, the place of the hoary veteran. 

* Weh-lick, the best. Ilacki, land. Ha-cka-mi-ga, a small tract of land. lia- 
gi-ha-can, a plantation. Linn^ia-cka-mi-ga, common land, KU-ha-cka-nn-ga , up- 
land, Si-ap-ha-cka-mi-ge-u, wet land. 

This village was reluctantly abandoned by Captain John in the autumn of 1742. 

t Wihlj the liead. Wi-tiink, on the head. — Zr. 

\ Woap-su and Woa-peek, white. Achtii^ a deer. Ach-ln-hu, where deer are 
plenty. — Zr. 

I \fik and u-i-quoam, a house. Wl-quoam-tit, a small house. Nisk-as-sis-ku, 
muddy. Nisk-su, nasty, Gun^das-sis-ku, mire. — Zr. 

II Wingan, sweet. Ha-gi-ha-can, a plantation. — Zr. 
][ Wi-su, fat, fleshy. Na-ineea, a fish. — Zr. 

** Wi-schas-sin, to be afraid. — Zr. 

ff Tim-me-u and Me-ium-rne-u, a wolf. — Zr. 

JJ Mi-hi-lu-sis, an old man. Mi-hi-lu-sac and Mi-hil-ln-sis-sac, old men. — Zr. 

Tlie first Moravians to cross the Wyalusing in " the land abounding in the 



48 TRANSACTIONS OF THfi 

Wyoming,* corrupted from JWcheuomi, or JWchenu-am'i, signi- 
fying extensive flats. The North Braneli of Susquehanna was in 
consequence culled IV chemoeami-sipu, i. e., the river of the exten- 
sive flats. The Iroquois called it Gahonta, a word of like signifi- 
cation. 

Wysox, or Wysaukin, (emptying into the Susquehanna from 
the North-east in Bradford County), corrupted from Wisachgimi,^ 
signifying, the place of grapes. 

Yellow Breeches, (a branch of the Susquehanna dividing 

i«iigar tree" (ach-snn-na-itii/isehi), were Bishop Caramerhoffand David Zeisberger, 
oil the way to Onondaga in the summer of 1750. In July of 1759, a Monsey of 
Wyalusing, one Papoonhank, wliile visiting acquaintances at Nain, near Bethle- 
hem, was deeply impressed by the preaching of the Gospel, so that on his return 
to his people, (with whom he stood in high repute as a teacher of morality), his 
representations of what he had lately lieard, prepared their minds for the recep- 
tion of Christianity. Thus it came to pass that David Zeisberger missionated at 
Wyalusing in 1763, and that Papoonhank was admitted into the Christian Church, 
by baptism, on tlie 26th of Jime of that year. The Monsey village of Wyalusing, 
or Papoonhank's town, is thus described by John Hays in his Journal to Tioga: 
"J/ffy 19, 1760. Arrived at a town called Quihiloosing. The captain's name if 
Wampomham, a very religious civilized man, in his own way, who sliowed us a 
great deal of kindness. The town is on the Susquehanna, east side, about twenty 
houses full of people, very good land and good Indian buildings, all new." Post, 
who accompanied Hays, writes in his report, "which is endorsed," Frederic Post's 
relation of what passed between him and the Quaker or religious Indians at Mon- 
muchlooson on the Susquehanna," as follows: "Dear Sir, — It gives me great 
pleasure to inform your honor of our arrival at Machhachlosuiiff, an Indian town 
newly laid out, where there dwells a company of Monseys, a religious people in 
their way. It is about eight years since they were gathered together by Papoon- 
hang, who is their leader and teacher." 

In Dec. of 1763, Papoonhank (who in baptism had received the name oi John) 
came to Bethlehem with twenty-one of his ISIonse^ adherents, desirous of sharing 
the protection which Government was in that perilous time extending to all 
friendly Indians. In this way the chieftain and his company came to be incorpo- 
rated with the Moravian Indians, whom they cheerfully followed into exile to 
Philadelphia. On the return of peace, it was John Papoonhank, who offered to 
intercede in person with the Six Nations, in behalf of his Christian brethren for 
permission to plant on the site of the Monsey town on the Wihiiusing. This was 
granted, and so it came to pass that in the spring of 1765, Friedenshiilten (huts of 
peace) was built by the Moravian Indians under Schmick and Zeisberger. Wya- 
lusing was deserted by the Moravian Indians in June of 1772. 

* I"or a further notice of Wyoming, see Memorials of the Moravian Churchy Vol. 
1,J3. 69. 

f Wi-sach-gan, bitter, pungent. Wi-sach-gimj grapes. Wi-sarh-gi-min-aclr, the 
grape-vine. Wi-sach-gank^ rum. — Zr. 



MORAVIAN HISTORtCAT. SOCIETY. 49 

Cuinberkuul and York Counties). The Delawares called it Cal- 
lajidtschinkj signifying, ivfiere it returns, in allusion to a point in 
the creek's course where it bends back. 

YouGHiOGHENY, (a branch of the Monongahela in Fayette 
County), corrupted from Juh-wiah-hanne, signifying, a stream floic- 
ing in a contrary direction, or in a circuitous course. 



2. DELAWARE NAMES 

OF RIVERS, STREAMS AND LOCALITIES IN NEW JERSEY. 

AcHQUAKENUNA, corrupted from Tachquahacanena, signifying, 
where pounding-blocks or mortal's, are made, — where the gum tree 
{Tachquachcanimlnschi) grows, of whose wood hominy-blocks are 
made. 

Amboy, corrupted from Emboli, signifying, round, Jiollow. Em- 
boolhatton, signifies, " holloia it out." When speaking of this place, 
the Indians would say Embolink, i. e., where there is a hollow, or 
at the hollow place. {Note. An old Indian, born on the site of 
Amboy, about 1680, with whom I was acquainted for upwards of 
twenty years, informed mc, that as the spot resembled a bowl, it 
was called Emboli. 

Chygoes, (the island in the Delaware opposite Burlington), 
called by the Indians T'schichopacki, signifying, the oldest planted 
ground. Note. The Delawares state that their first settlement so 
far east, was on this island. 

Hackensack, corrupted from Hackinhsaquik, signifying, a 
stream that unites with another on low ground, or imperceptibly. 

HoBOKEN, corrupted from Hopocan,^ a tobacco-pipe. 

]\[ackiapier, corrupted from Machhhicibi, signifying, reddish 
water.]' 

MuscoNETCONG, Corrupted from Jlaskhanneunk, a, rapid stream. 

Passaic, corrupted from Pasdic, or Fassajeck, signifying, o. val- 
ley. 

'■^ Ilo-poa-can, a pipe. — Zr. 

f ilach-ke-u, red. Wbi^ water.— z^/'. 



50 TEANSACTIONS OF THE 

PiscATAWAY, corrupted from Pisgattauioi, signifying, it is grow- 
ing darh."^- 

PoGUXNOCK, corrupted from PceJc-hanne, signifying, the dark 
stream.^ 

PoMPTON, corrupted from Pihmtoon, signifying, crooked- 
mouthed.^ 

KoMOPACK, corrupted, probably, from Widumipeek,% a round 
jwnd, or lake. 

SusPECAUGH, corrupted from SisjJeckhjW signifying, muddy 
standing water. 

Tappan, corrupted from Tuppeek-hanne, signifying, a stream 
issuing from a large spring. 

ToTAWA Falls. Totawa corrupted from Totauwei, signifying, 
to dive and reappear. 

Walpack, corrupted from Wahlj)eek,^\ signifying a turn-hole. 

Wantagp], corrupted from Wmidachqui** signifying, that way.- 

Whippaxy, corrupted from Wip-hanne, signifying, arroic- 
stream, i. e., a stream along which the arrow-wood grows. 

WiSCONK, corrupted from Wis-quonk, signifying, where there is 
an elboio. Wisquoan signifies a twist, anything twisted, as a twist 
of yarn, or a twist of tobacco. 

* Pis-gc-ke, night. Pis-ge-u, it is night. Pischlc, the niglit-hawk. — Zr. 

f Pe-ge-niink, in darkness. — Zr. 

X See Pymatuning in this Register. 

§ Woa-lae, a hole, Wu-lum-eu, rouiul. Tiip-peek, a pool. — Zr. 

II Nisk-as-sis-ku, muddy. Tuppcek, r\:>ooL — Zr. 

^ Compounded of Woa-lac, a hole, and tuppeek, a pool. Tlie name liirn-holt' 
a provincialism now obsolete, was used to designate a sudden bend of a stream 
around the base of a rock, by which means the wafer when deep was tnrnnd upon 
itself into an eddy. Sixty years ago the 'Turn Hole in the Lehigh, above Mauch 
Chunk, was one of the objects of interest, which attracted the attention of travelers 
in that then wild region of country. — Howel's Map ot 1792, indicates the spot. 

** ^yu-li, yonder. Wum^ he came tiience. Wun-dach-al^ come here. — Zr. 



MOKAVIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 51 



3. DELAWARE NAMES 

OF EIVERS, STREAMS AND PLACES IN MARYLAND. 

AcQUiA, corrupted from Equiwi,"^ signifying, hetween. 

Aquakik, corrupted from Achoio6hik, signifying, a thicket. 

Aquasquit, corrupted from Achowasquit, signifying, grass)/, 
overgrown with grass. 

Chesapeake, corrupted from TschischtvapeJci, or K'tschischtca- 
peehi,, compounded of Kitschi, signifying, highli/ salted, and peek, a 
body of standing xoater, a pond, a hay. 

Chicknicomika, corrupted from Tschikemimiki,-\ signifying, 
the place of t*irkeys. 

Corapechen, corrupted from Colapechen, signifying, a fine run- 
ning stream. 

Magotty, corrupted from Megukty, signifying a small ^ilain des- 
titute of timber, a meadoio, or prairie. 

Manokin, corrupted from 3fendchkink,l 'signifying an enclosed 
spot, whether a fort, or a town. 

Mesongo, corrupted from Meschdnge,% signifying, lohere we kill 
deer. ^ 

Nanticoke, corrupted from N6chticok. [Note. Along this 
stream the Nanticokes, who are descendants of the Dekiwares, had 
their settlements.) 

OccoQUAN, corrupted from Okhucquoan,\\ a hook, a pot hook. 

OpicoNj corrupted from Opeekhan, signifying, a stream of whi- 
tish color. 

Pamunky, corrupted from Pihmunga,^ signifying, ichere we 
sweat, viz : in the sweat-house. 



* Equi-wi, under. — Zr. 

f Tschi-ke-num, a turkey. — Zr. 

+ Me-nach-ffiinlc, within the fence. — Zr. 

§ Me-scha-can, to wound. — Zr. 

II Hoc-quoan, a pot-hook. — Zr. 

^ Fihm, to sweat. Pomo-a-can, a sweat-house. Pimook, go to sweat. Pim-hot- 
tin, they are sweating. 

" The Indians are remarkably addicted to the use of sweating-baths, made of 
earth and lined with clay. A small door serves as an entrance. The patient 



52 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 

creeps in, seats himself and places heated stones around the sides. Whenever he 
has sweated a certain time, he immerses himself suddenly in cold water; from 
which he derives great security against all sorts of sickness." — Beschryving von 
America on t' Zuidland, door Arnoldus Mojitunus, Amsterdam 1671. 

" Their physic is scarcely anything beyond a hot-house or a powaw. Tlieir 
hot-house is a little cave, where, after they have terribly heated it, a crew of them 
go and sit and sweat and smoke for an hour together, and then immediately run 
into some cold adjacent brook, without the least mischief to them." — Increase Ma- 
ther. 

" The sweating-houses of the Indians of Carolina and Florida, are usually placed 
on the banks of rivers, and are some of stone and some of clay. In form and size 
they are like a large oven, into wliich they roll stones heated very hot. The pa- 
tient creeps into the chamber thus prepared, and is closely shut up. After about 
an hour's confinement in this warm situation, he comes forth all reeking in tor- 
rents of sweat and plunges into the river. Among the benefits which they receive 
by this sweating, they say it cures fevers, dissipates pains in the limbs contracted 
by colds, also rheumatic diseases, and creates fresh spirits and agility, enabling 
them the better to hunt." — Cateslnfs Xatural History of Carolina^ Florida and the 
Bahama Islands. 

" In those complaints which proceed from rheumatic afi'ections, bleeding and 
xwcatinc] are always the first remedies applied. The sweat-oven is the first thing an 
Indian has recourse to, when he feels the least indisposed ; it is the place to which 
the weary traveler, hunter or warrior looks for relief from the fatigues he has en- 
dured, the cold he has caught, or for the restoration of his lost appetite. 

"The oven is made of different sizes so as to accommodate from two to six 
persons at a time, or according to the number of men in the village, so that they 
may be all successively served. It is generally built on a bank or slope, one half 
of it within and the other above ground. It is well covered on the top M'ith split 
planks and earth, and has a door in front, where the ground is level, to go or 
rather creep in. Here, on the outside, stones, generally of about the size of a 
large turnip, are heated by one or more men appointed each day for that puri)ose. 
While the oven is heating, decoctions from roots or plants are jjrepared either by 
the person himself who intends to sweat, or by one of the men of the village, who 
boils a large kettlefiil for general use, so that when the public crier going his 
rounds, calls out " Pimoolc .'" " ffo to sweat I" every one brings his small kettle 
which is filled for him with the potion, which at the same time serves him as a 
medicine, promotes a profuse perspiration, and quenches his thirst. As soon as a 
sufficient number have come to the oven, hot stones are rolled into the middle of 
i1, and the sweaters go in, seating themselves or rather squatting around the 
stones, and there tliey remain until the sweat ceases to flow ; then they come out, 
throwing a blanket or two about them that they may not catch cold. In the mean- 
time, freshly heated stones are thrown in for those who follow them. While they 
are in the oven, water is now and then poured on the hot stones to produce steam, 
which they say increases the heat, and gives suppleness to their limbs and joints. 
In rheumatic complaints, the steam is produced by a decoction of boiled roots and 
the patient during the operation is well wrapped up in blankets to keep the cold 
from him, and promote perspiration at the same time. 

Sweat-ovens are generally at some distance from the village, and where wood 



MORAVIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 53 

Patapsco, corrupted from Petapsqui* signifying, back-water, or 
tide-water covered with froth. 

PiccowAXEN, corrupted from Fix{iv:axen,\ or PiJciuioaxen, sig- 
nifying, torn-shoes. 

PoKOMOKA, corrupted from Pocqueumoke, the place of shell- 
fish.t 

Potomac, corrupted from Pethamook, signifying, they are coming 
by water. 

QuENTico, corrupted from Gentican,^ signifying, dancing, the 
place of dancing. 

QuEPONCO, corrupted from Cuicenp6nga,\\ signif^^ing, ashes of 
pine- wood. [Note. Probably some Indians encamping on the 
bank of this stream, were necessitated to bake their bread in such 
ashes.) 

Sassafras River. In Delaware, Winak-hdnrie,^ i. e., sassafras 
stream. 

Senegar Creek, corrupted from Sinnike, signifying, stony, 
Sinni-hanne, a stony stream. 

Senegar Falls. In Delaware, Sinnipehelle, i. e,, water running 
over stones. 

Shexaxdoak, corrupted from Schindhandowi, or Schindhando- 
uv7;,** signifying, the sprucy stream, i. e,, a stream flowing past 
spruce-])ines. 

Tuckahoe, corrupted from Tuchdchowe, signifying, deer are shy. 
Tuchd-uchoak, the p)lace u-here deer are shy. 

WiLiPQUix,tt right Delaware, signifying, the place of interring 



and water are at liarid. The best order is preserved at these places. The women 
liave a separate oven in a different direction from tliat of the men, and subjected 
to the same rules. The men generally sweat themselves once and sometimes 
twice a week ; the women have no fixed day for tiiis exercise, nor do they take it 
as often as do the men.'' — Hcckeicelder' s Indian Nations^ p. 219. 

* Pe-ta quie-chen, the water is rising.— Zr. 
t Fiz-u, ragged. Mack-sen, a shoe or sock. — Zi . 
j Poc-quc-u, a clam, a mussel. — Zr. 

? Hence, cantico, an Indian dance. See note under JJuncanau-pcn, in this 
register. 

II Pongus, the sand-fly, — ashes. — Zr. 

*^ Wi-nakchj the sassafras tree. — Zr. 

** Schind, the spruce tree. Srhindi-ke-fj, where spruce is plenty. — Zr. 

ft Wm, the head.— ;irr. 



54 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 

shdls. {Note. The Nanticokes had a custom of carrying the 
skulls and even the bones of their deceased to certain places, 
where they buried them in caverns or holes.) 

Wicomico, corrupted from V/ihcomiha,^ signifying, xoliere houses 
are building. 



4. INDIAN NAMES 



OF EIVERS, STREAMS, LOCALITIES AND PERSONS, 

COPIED FKOM AN EARLY HISTORY OP VIRGINIA,! ALL AVHICH NAMES, BEING 
DELAWARE, ARE EVIDENCE THAT THE LENNAPE WERE IN POSSESSION 
OF THAT COUNTRY WHEN FIRST OCCUPIED BY THE ENGLISH. ' 

Accomack, corrupted from Achgamcek, signifying, a broad bay. 

Arkahatuk, corrupted from Allahattech, signifying, empty, 
there is no more of it; spoken probably of a bottle, keg or vessel, 
emptied of its liquor. 

Chapacour, corrupted from Tsohdppichk, a medicine prepared 
from 7'oots, — tschdppick, signifying, a root. 

Chickahominy, corrupted from TsGhikenemahoni, signifying, a 
turkey-lick, a lick frequented by turkeys. (Note. I know several 
places that bear this name ) 

Chiconnesse, corrupted from Chicondsink, signifying, ichere it 
was forcibly taken from us." 

Chissenessick, corrupted from T'schuissenetschik, signifying, 
the place of blue birds.X 

Gangascoe, corrupted from Shtm/dscui, signifying, level and 
^oggy.% 



* Wik and ivi-quoam^ a house. \\ik-i-a^ my house. Wi-Icich-tid, their house. 
Wi-ke-u, he is huilding a house.— Zr. 

f The Ilisiorjf of Virginia^ in four parts, hy a native and inhabitant of the place. 
London, 1705. 

X Tschi-ma-luSj and Tschi-hoa-pe-ke-lis, the hhie bird. — Zr. 

\ Shm-ge-u, level. Shin- gas- gunk, a bog-meadow. — Zr. Shingas was the name 
of a brother of King Beaver, one of the ablest war-chiefs of the western Dela- 
wares, between 1755 and 1763. 



MORAVIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 55 

GiNGOTEQUE, corrupted from ShinghatWce, signifying, he rejects 
it, he desjnses it* 

HuscANAWPEN, Corrupted from Hus-ca-na-pe-i, or rather, hus- 
ca nHenapev^i, signifying, Indeed lam a Lennajje!'^ an Indian of the 
original stock ! — an exclamation or refrain I often heard the Dela- 
wares use at their Canticoes or festive dances.| 

KiEQUOTANK, corrupted from Kiwiquutank, signifying, a visi- 
tor. % 

KiQUOLAN, corrupted from Kiquatank, signifying both, one who 
heals, and the place where the sick are healcd.\\ 

Macock, corrupted from Ilitzhack, the name given by the Del- 
awares to the edible kinds of hard-shelled fruits or pepones, such 
as the pumpkin, the cashaw, &c., compounded ofmitz, (from mitzin, 
to eat) and hack, rind or shell. Hackhack is their word for gourd. 
Each variety of pepo has its specific name. Geskondhdckan is 
the generic name. {Note. The boxes made from the inner bark 
of the elm or birch, in which the Indians pack maple-sugar for 
transportation, are also called macocks.)'^ 

* Schiii-gat-tam^ to dislike. Shin-ga-lendj one who is disliked- — Zr. 

f Le-na-pe, an Indian. Lenupeicak, Indians. Lin-ni le-na-pe, Indians of the 
Ruine nation. — Zr. 

X " Their Canticoes, as they call thenj, are performed by round dances, sometimes 
words, then songs, then shouts, — two being in ye middle that begin and direct ye 
chorus. This they perform with great fervency and appearances of joy." Wm. 
Penn to Henry Savell, Phil'a., 30th day, 5ih month, 1683. 

"It is a pleasing spectacle to see the Indian dances, when intended merely for 
social diversion and innocent ainusenier)t. I acknowledge I would prefer being 
present at them for a full hour, than a few minutes only at such dances as I have 
witnessed in our country taverns among the white people. Their songs are by no 
means unharmonious. They sing in chorus, first the men and then the women. 
At times the women join in the general song, or repeat the strain which the men 
have just fiuished. It seems like two companies singing in questions and answers, 
and is upon the whole very agreeable and enlivening. After thus singing for 
about a quarter of an hour, they conclude with a loud yell, which I confess is not 
in concord with the rest of the music. One person ab.vays begins the singing ; 
others fall in successively, and I hen comes the chorus, the drum beating all the 
while to mark the time. The voices of the women are clear and full, and their 
intonations generally correct." — Heckewelder'' s Indian Nations. 

2 Ki-u-i-ke, to visit. Ki-^ci-ke-u, he visits. Ki-ici-ka-meUj I visit you. Ki-tvi- 
ka-mi, visit me. — Zr. 

II Ki-ke-woa-gan, a cure. — Zr. 

^ Mit-zin, to eat. Mitz-u, he eats. Mit-zit te, if he eat. Mi-ziech-tit, their vic- 
tuals. Ge-scund-haCj pumpkins. — Zr. 



56 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 

Matchacomoca, corrupted from Matachgcnimoah, signifying, 
they are counselling about tear, — they are holding a council of icar, — 
hence also a council of war. 

Matchopungo, corrupted from 3Iatschipungo, signifying bad 
powder, or bad ashes (i. e., ashes unfit for the baking of bread).* 

Matomkin, corrupted from Maitemihin, signifying, to enter a 
house. ^ 

Mattapony, corrupted from Mattachp6na,X signifying, no bread 
at all — no bread to be hadl 

Menheering, cori:upted from Meiihattinh, signifying, on the 
island.^ % 

Moccasin, corrupted from Macksen, Delaware for shoe or soch.\\ 

MoNACAN, corrupted from Monlidcan, a spade, or any imple- 
ment used for digging the soil. 

Nansamond, corrupted from Neunschimend, signifying, whence 
toe fled. 

Nemattano, corrupted from NimmaUima, signifying, our 
brother. Ni-mat, a brother. 

Oaksuskie, corrupted from Woak-as-sishu, signifying, a wind' 
ing marsh or bog.^ 

Oanancock, corrupted from Auwanndhu, signifying, /o^'^'?/.*''' 

OccoHANNOCK, Corrupted from Woak-hannc, a tcinding stream. 

Oppeehaneanough, corrupted from Opeek-hdnne, a froth-wJiite 
stream, or from Huppeechk-hanne, the rain-icorm stream, hnppeechh, 
signifying, a rain icorm. 



* 31ach-(is-s-isu, and mach-tit.-su, bad. Povgtis, ashes. — Zr. The bread used by 
the Indiana is of two kinds ; one made of green corn while in the milk, and an- 
other of the same grain when fully rijie and dry. This last is pounded as line as 
poi^sible, then sifted and kneaded into dough, and afterwards made up into cakes 
of six inches diameter, and an inch in thickness rounded ofi" on the edge. In 
baking these cakes, they are extremely particular. The ashes must b» clean and 
hot, and (fjjossible come from r/ood dn/ oak bark, which tkei/ say gives a good and du- 
rable heat. The Indians laugh at the white hunters for baking their bread in 
dirty ashes." — Ileckewelder's Indian Nations. 

f Mat-te-mi-ffeen, to enter in. — Zr. 

X Met-ta, no. Ach-jioan, bread. — Zr. 

§ Me-na-tey, an island, ink, the local suffix. — Zr. 

II Wusk-ha-xen, new shoes ; compounded of icus-kcn, new, and mack-sen, shoes.—' 
Zr. 

\ Woak-tschin-i, iohex\(^. Woak-tsche-u,cxodke<l. iroa/i-/«c/i«c/iW(?, compounded 
of Woaktscheu and hanne, a bend in a river. Nisk-as-sis-ku, muddy.— Zr. 

** A-wonn, fog. 



MORAVIAN HISTOHICAL SOCIETY. 57 

Pamqnky, corrupted from Pihmanga, signifying, where we sweat. 

PoccosEN, corrupted probably from F'duckassin,'^ signifying, a 
place where balls, bullets or lead are to be had. 

PocoHONTAS, corrupted from Pockohantes, signifying, a stream- 
let or run between two hills, compounded of pochko, a rock, or rocky 
lull, and hanne, a stream, the latter word made a diminutive bv 
the suffix tes.j 

PocoMOKE, corrupted from Pochhanimukll;, signifying, broken or 
diversified by knolls and hills. 

Powhatan, corrupted from Pawat-hdnne, i. e., the stream of 
wealth or fruitfulness,% the name of James River as well as of the 
historic sachem of the allied Powhatans. 

PuNGOTEQUE. {Note. Tiie Delaware word pung, signifies, 
powder, and also, ashes, dust ancl fine sand. The word as above in- 
correctly written may denote a locality where either of tliose sub- 
stances abound. Written Punghatteke, it denotes the j^lace of pjow- 
der. 

Rappahannock, corj-upted from Lajjpi hdnne,^ signifying, the 
stream with an ebb and fiow. Lappahannink, signifies, where the 
tide-water flows and ebbs. 

Tangomockonomingo, corrupted from Tangamochkomenunga, 
signifying, "the bark for the medicine,'" which was brought from 
Little Beaver Creek, [Tangamochke). 

Tomahaavk, corruj)ted from Tamahican, an axe or liaichet. 

Uttamaccomack, corrupted from Uchtamuganat, signifying, a 
path-maker, a. leader. [Note. The name of a well known war- 
chief.) 

Wasebur, corrupted from Waschdbuck, signifying, a physic. 

* Al-uns and P'tiick-ci-Zunn, a biillel. ' Al-uns-hi-ciii. a bullet mould.— Zr. 

t Poc/i-ka-wach-ne^ a. ati-Qiww lie'wfcii two liills.— .^r. 

Pocoliontas, daugliipr o( rouliatan, well-known for her iVieiidsliip to tlie earlv 
colonists of Virginia, was born about 1595. Soon after her baptism, in whidi she 
received (he name of Nrbecca, she married John Rolfe, of Jamestown, in April of 
lijl3. In IGIG she went to England, where she was an object of great interest to 
all classes, and was presented at Court bv Lad.v De la Ware. When on tlie i>oint 
of embarking on her return to America,- she died at Gravei^end, in March of 1617. 
She left one .son. John Randolph of Eoanoke, was descended from Pocahontas 
on his father's side, — other descendants are slill found in Virginia. 

J Pa- wall-si, to be rich. — Zr. 

i. Lap-pi, again. Lap-piech-si, to tell it over again. — Zr. 

8 



n 



58 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 

Werauwano, corrupted probably from Wajauvn, Minsi Dela- 
ware for chief. 

Wighsacan, corrupted from Wisachgim, sour grapes, or from 
Wisachgank, rum, or whiskey, vnsachk signifying, pungent to the 
taste. 

Wigwam, corrupted from wiquoam, a house. 

WiNANK, corrupted from tvinaak, the .sassafras free. 

Wisoccon, corrupted from wisochcan, signifying, anything hit- 
ter or pungent to the taste. 

Wyanoke, corrupted from Wigundka, signifying, the point of 
an island — the land's end. 



i«Jw ^ I, 



